In a recent turn of events, OpenAI has come forward to address a lawsuit filed by co-founder Elon Musk, aiming to clarify misconceptions about its commitment to openness and its operational ethos. This move comes after Musk took legal action against the organization, accusing it of straying from its foundational principles.
A Brief Overview of the Dispute
Elon Musk, a pivotal figure in the tech industry and a co-founder of OpenAI, initiated a lawsuit against the artificial intelligence research entity, alleging a departure from its original non-profit mission.
Musk’s grievance centers on the organization’s purported shift towards prioritizing profits, mainly through a specialized subsidiary, and deviating from its pledge to keep significant AI advancements open source and accessible to all.
OpenAI’s Response
In a detailed blog post titled “OpenAI and Elon Musk,” OpenAI sought to shed light on the situation by sharing a series of archived communications with Musk. These correspondences from years past suggest that Musk was once in favor of moving away from open-source practices in pursuing artificial general intelligence (AGI).
A notable email exchange from January 2016 reveals OpenAI Chief Scientist Illya Sutskever’s stance that becoming less open was acceptable as AGI development progressed, with Musk simply responding, “Yup.”
OpenAI’s post emphasizes that the “open” in OpenAI signifies the intention for the fruits of AGI research to be universally beneficial rather than denoting an unwavering commitment to open-source methodologies throughout the development process.
The Contention with Microsoft
Musk’s lawsuit also highlights a contentious relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing the former of transforming into a “closed-source de facto subsidiary” of the tech giant. According to Musk, this partnership contradicts OpenAI’s charter, which advocates for AGI to benefit all of humanity.
OpenAI’s Perspective on “Openness”
In its defense, OpenAI articulates a broader interpretation of “open,” underlining its efforts to make AI technology widely usable and beneficial through various means, including open-source contributions.
The organization also points to the availability of powerful AI technologies, such as a free version used by millions globally, as evidence of its commitment to democratizing AI benefits.
A Personal Undertone
The discourse between Musk and OpenAI appears to carry a personal dimension, with OpenAI expressing regret over the conflict with a figure they once deeply admired.
The shared emails, some of which attempt to be decoded by AI enthusiasts online, reveal Musk’s suggestions for OpenAI’s integration into Tesla and his warnings about funding challenges compared to competitors like Google DeepMind.
Moving Forward
As the legal battle unfolds, the nature of the dispute suggests a deeply entangled conflict that might resemble a “bitter divorce” more than a conventional business disagreement.
Nonetheless, OpenAI remains steadfast in its resolve to dismiss all claims made by Musk and continue its mission towards advancing AI openly and beneficially for humanity.
Source: arstechnica
Investing in OpenAI Stock
In ethical investing, particularly within the Islamic finance framework, classifying investments as Halal or Haram is paramount. For an investment to be considered Halal, it must meet specific Shariah-compliant criteria, focusing on business activities, interest-bearing securities and assets, and interest-bearing debt.
Understanding Shariah Compliance in Investments
Business Activity Criterion
Shariah-compliant investing necessitates that a company’s core business activity should be Halal and revenue from non-Halal and doubtful sources should not exceed 5% of its total revenue.
Interest-Bearing Securities and Assets
For a company to be deemed Shariah-compliant, the total amount of its interest-bearing securities and assets, regardless of their term, should not surpass 30% of its market capitalization.
Interest-Bearing Debt
Similarly, the Shariah compliance criteria dictate that a company’s interest-bearing debt, whether short-term or long-term, should also not exceed 30% of the market capitalization.
Alternatives to OpenAI Stock
Given that OpenAI has not yet gone public and lacks direct investment options, interested parties look towards Microsoft and Nvidia for indirect exposure to OpenAI’s advancements.
Microsoft’s Compliance Status
Microsoft works a lot with OpenAI, but if we use the rules above, investing in Microsoft doesn’t fit the Halal criteria (as of March 2024). So, it’s not the best choice if you want to stick to Islamic investing rules.
Nvidia’s Compliance Status
Looking at Nvidia with our rules, it seems like a good choice (Halal as of March 2024).
Even though you can’t invest directly in OpenAI, you can indirectly by investing in other companies.