OpenAI is requesting Meta to provide evidence regarding any coordinated plans with Elon Musk and xAI to acquire or invest in the ChatGPT-maker.
The request was revealed in a brief filed Thursday in Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI. OpenAI’s lawyers stated they subpoenaed Meta in June for documents related to its potential involvement in Musk’s unsolicited, $97 billion bid to take over the startup in February. It’s unclear if such evidence exists. OpenAI rejected Musk’s bid.
OpenAI’s lawyers claim they found that Musk communicated with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg concerning xAI’s bid to acquire the ChatGPT-maker, discussing “potential financing arrangements or investments.”
Meta opposed OpenAI’s initial subpoena in July; OpenAI’s lawyers are now seeking a court order to obtain the evidence. OpenAI is also asking the court for documents and communications from Meta related to “any actual or potential restructuring or recapitalization of OpenAI,” the central issue in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI.
Meta spokesperson Andy Stone referred TechCrunch to a section of OpenAI’s filing, indicating Meta or Zuckerberg did not sign Musk’s letter of intent to acquire the ChatGPT-maker. Meta declined further comment.
Meanwhile, Meta has heavily invested in developing its own AI models, including hiring several of OpenAI’s top AI researchers like Shengjia Zhao, now heading research at Meta Superintelligence Labs, the company’s newest AI unit. Meta invested $14 billion in Scale AI and reportedly approached other AI labs for acquisition deals.
Meta’s lawyers asked the court to deny OpenAI’s evidence request, arguing Musk and xAI can provide relevant details. They claim that Meta’s internal discussions about OpenAI’s restructuring are irrelevant to the case.
This is a developing story… Check back for updates.