Meta sent a letter to California's attorney general on Thursday urging him to block OpenAI from becoming a for-profit company, a move Meta said would be “wrong” and “could lead to a proliferation of similar startups that theoretically are charitable until they are potentially profitable.” Meta Platforms’ letter to Attorney General Rob Bonta, first reported on <a target="_blank" data-i13n="elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1" class="link " href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/elon-musk-open-ai-lawsuit-response-c1f415f8″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:The Wall Street Journal;elm:context_link;elmt:doNotAffiliate;cpos:1;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>It comes on the heels of calls in late November to block the OpenAI conversion as well.
Meta maintains in his letter that has published in full that OpenAI was able to raise billions of dollars from investors under its original nonprofit mission and now “wants to change its status while retaining all the benefits that allowed it to reach the point it is today.” It goes on to say: “OpenAI should not be allowed to break the law by taking and reappropriating assets it built as a charity and using them for potentially huge private gains.” The letter also calls on the attorney general to investigate OpenAI's past practices as a nonprofit. Engadget has contacted OpenAI for comment.
Meta's letter also expresses support for Elon Musk and Shivon Zilis representing public interests in Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI. On Friday, published to show how he previously pushed for OpenAI to become a for-profit organization with him at the helm.
In a statement shared with The edge In response to Meta's letter, OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor said: “While our work continues as we continue to consult with independent financial and legal advisors, any potential restructuring would ensure that the nonprofit continues existing and thriving, and receive full value for its current participation in for-profit OpenAI with an enhanced ability to carry out its mission.”
