San Francisco: Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk has renewed his criticisms of OpenAI, accusing the AI research company of abandoning its original non-profit mission and prioritising profit over purpose. In two posts on X, Musk claimed OpenAI “is built on a lie” and that it “stole a charity and used it for their own financial gain,” reigniting his long-standing feud with the Sam Altman-led firm.
Musk’s latest attack
The comments come just days after OpenAI celebrated the first anniversary of its text-to-video app, Sora. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Altman, Greg Brockman, and others, has repeatedly accused the company of abandoning its altruistic roots. He described OpenAI as “a closed-source, profit-driven Microsoft subsidiary” that has strayed from its original vision of ensuring AI benefits humanity.
OpenAI’s origins under scrutiny
OpenAI was initially established as a non-profit AI research lab. Musk contributed early funding and strategic guidance, aiming to promote safe AI development. However, he stepped down from the board in 2018 over disagreements about the company’s trajectory.
Since then, OpenAI adopted a capped-profit model and entered a close partnership with Microsoft. Critics, including Musk, argue that these changes marked a significant departure from the company’s charitable, mission-driven beginnings.
A deepening rift
This is not the first time Musk has publicly clashed with OpenAI. Earlier in 2025, he filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman for “breach of contract,” alleging the firm had transformed into a for-profit entity in violation of its founding principles. The case was later withdrawn.
OpenAI has consistently defended its structure, stating that it remains committed to developing safe and beneficial AI while balancing financial sustainability. The renewed exchange between Musk and OpenAI underscores ongoing tensions over the organisation’s governance and mission.