OpenAI has called on U.S. regulators to investigate Elon Musk and his associates over alleged anti-competitive conduct, escalating a legal dispute between the two sides ahead of a closely watched trial set to begin this month.
In a letter sent on Monday to Rob Bonta and Kathy Jennings, the artificial intelligence firm accused Musk of engaging in “improper and anti-competitive behavior.” The move comes as Musk pursues a lawsuit filed in 2024 against OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman, and other defendants.
Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who left the organisation in 2018, alleges that the company has strayed from its original mission by transitioning toward a for-profit structure. Since his departure, he has launched a rival AI venture, xAI, which develops the chatbot Grok.
OpenAI, however, argues that Musk’s legal action—seeking damages exceeding $100 billion—could severely undermine its nonprofit foundation and broader operations. The company’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon, warned that the lawsuit could hinder efforts to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits society at large.
In earlier court filings, OpenAI also claimed that Musk attempted to involve Mark Zuckerberg in a consortium bid to acquire OpenAI, though the effort did not materialise.
A judge in Oakland, California, ruled in January that the case should proceed to a jury trial, which is expected to begin in April. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the governance and commercial direction of AI companies, as well as competition within the rapidly evolving sector.
OpenAI further alleged that Musk’s filings suggest regulators may not have fully scrutinised its restructuring plans, urging authorities to take a closer look at the broader competitive dynamics surrounding the dispute.
