Ex-OpenAI Employees Oppose For-Profit Shift, Back Elon Musk’s Lawsuit to Preserve AI Mission

Ex-OpenAI Employees Oppose For-Profit Shift, Back Elon Musk’s Lawsuit to Preserve AI Mission

Ex-OpenAI Employees Rally Against For-Profit Transition in Support of Elon Musk's Lawsuit A new twist in the ongoing legal battle over the future of OpenAI has emerged. A group of former OpenAI employees has stepped forward to file a powerful amicus brief, publicly opposing the company’s transition from nonprofit to for-profit. As someone closely following the evolution of artificial intelligence and its ethical implications, I find this development especially significant—and troubling. Image Credits:Nathan Laine/Bloomberg / Getty Images Why Ex-Employees Are Standing with Musk On April 11, 2025, twelve former OpenAI team members—along with Harvard law professor and Creative Commons founder Lawrence Lessig—submitted an amicus brief in support of Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI. These employees, including research and policy leaders, assert that converting OpenAI to a for-profit public benefit corporation (PBC) would betray its original mission. The message is clear: OpenAI’s unique n…