The legal battle between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman arrived before a federal court on Tuesday but the judge expressed skepticism about Musk’s evidence of “irreparable harm” stemming from OpenAI’s establishment as a profit-driven entity.
During the lawsuit Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated that both parties involved were “billionaires versus billionaires.” Musk launched OpenAI together with other founders in 2015 before suing AI giant OpenAI last year because it substituted its nonprofit mission for an emphasis on profit growth. The judge has not announced a ruling to halt OpenAI restructuring even though Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is requesting a preliminary injunction.
During the hearing his attorney made the point that OpenAI’s Microsoft partnership has established monopoly powers in the AI industry while Musk himself remained absent. According to Musk OpenAI’s transition to a profit-driven enterprise offends its basic principles of operation just like a charity provides minimal benefits for public interests but big rewards for businesses. 
OpenAI pursed the for-profit model as it needed financial backing because of increasing international investments in AI technology. Records showed that Musk initially backed OpenAI’s transition to become a profit-making organization while trying to secure dominant ownership of the company.
The judge stated that the trial process is coming up where Musk can provide his arguments to jurors.
The industry faces potential deep implications from this billionaire dispute because AI will be central to the technological future.
