Musk Approached Zuckerberg for OpenAI Investment
Court documents made public Thursday reveal that Elon Musk actively sought investment support from
Mark Zuckerberg and Meta in a $97 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, the company behind
ChatGPT[1][5]. The filings state that Musk and representatives from his AI company,
xAI, discussed potential financing arrangements and investments with Zuckerberg, but neither he nor Meta agreed to participate or sign the letter of intent[1][4].
OpenAI Demands Meta Disclose Potential Collaboration
OpenAI’s legal team is pressing Meta to release internal communications and documents that might demonstrate coordination or discussions regarding Musk’s takeover attempt[4][2]. According to the filings:
- OpenAI subpoenaed Meta in June for records tied to talks about the $97 billion bid[3][4].
- Zuckerberg and Musk reportedly communicated about financing options for xAI’s proposal[1][5].
- Meta objected to the subpoena in July, stating that it sees no obligation to share information it considers private or unnecessary for the case[4][5].
- OpenAI wants additional disclosure on any Meta discussions linked to OpenAI’s internal restructuring, a central aspect of Musk’s lawsuit[2][5].
The Broader Dispute: OpenAI’s Restructuring and Musk’s Lawsuits
The legal showdown centers on OpenAI’s transition from a nonprofit to a public benefit corporation, which Musk claims violates its founding principles and prioritizes commercial interests over public benefit[3][4]. Musk and OpenAI previously worked together, but Musk left the board in 2018, later founding
xAI and launching public and legal attacks on OpenAI’s governance[1].
Meta and the Competitive AI Landscape
Meta’s role in the AI sector has rapidly expanded, with significant recruitment and investment into AI research and products. Meta has hired several former OpenAI researchers and invested $14 billion into
Scale AI, alongside a reported interest in acquiring other AI labs[5].
Status and Next Steps
Neither Meta nor Zuckerberg agreed to join Musk’s OpenAI bid[1][5]. OpenAI, arguing such ties could shed light on Musk’s intentions and market dynamics, is now urging the court to compel Meta to comply with the document request[2][4]. The matter is ongoing, with both Meta and Musk declining further public comment while legal proceedings continue[1][4].
