OpenAI Sues Elon Musk Over Alleged Harassment and Takeover Attempt

OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Tesla CEO Elon Musk, accusing him of harassment and seeking a federal court injunction to block further disruptive behavior. The legal battle stems from OpenAI’s shift to a for-profit structure, which it says is vital to securing $40 billion in funding to remain competitive in the AI race.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left the company before its rapid growth, has since launched his own artificial intelligence venture, xAI, in 2023. He has publicly criticized OpenAI’s transformation, arguing it strays from its original mission to develop safe AI for the benefit of humanity.

According to OpenAI’s court filing, Musk has orchestrated a campaign of social media attacks, unfounded lawsuits, and an attempted hostile takeover to damage the company’s reputation and regain influence over its direction. The company alleges these actions are part of a broader effort by Musk to disrupt its progress and take control of cutting-edge AI technology for his personal benefit.

“Elon’s nonstop actions against us are just bad-faith tactics to slow down OpenAI and seize control of the leading AI innovations for his personal benefit. Today, we counter-sued to stop him,” OpenAI stated in a post on social media platform X.

The dispute highlights growing tensions in the AI industry as major players compete for dominance. A jury trial is scheduled for spring 2026, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal showdown between two of the tech world’s most influential forces.