Geoffrey Hinton Supports Elon Musk's Legal Challenge Against OpenAI's For-Profit Shift

Geoffrey Hinton, a leading data scientist esteemed as the "Godfather of artificial intelligence," has expressed his support for Elon Musk's legal efforts to prevent OpenAI from transitioning to a for-profit organization.

In October, Hinton was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics, recognized for his pioneering contributions in developing artificial neural networks, which are essential to the field of artificial intelligence.

"OpenAI was established as a non-profit with a strong focus on safety, and it made several commitments regarding safety in its charter," Hinton stated in a remark released by Encode, a youth-led group advocating for a human-centered approach to AI that enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them.

Hinton pointed out that OpenAI has benefited significantly from its non-profit status, including various tax advantages. He emphasized that allowing the organization to abandon its initial framework when it becomes inconvenient sends a damaging message to the entire AI ecosystem.

Originally founded in 2015 by Musk, chief executive Sam Altman, and other collaborators, OpenAI was designed as a non-profit research lab. However, in 2019, it shifted to a capped-profit model while remaining under non-profit control. Recently, OpenAI announced plans to move toward a more conventional for-profit structure that would enable it to gather necessary investments.

Musk, a co-founder who distanced himself from OpenAI in 2018, is determined to halt this shift. On Monday, Encode filed an amicus brief—a document offering input on the case from an outside party—in favor of Musk's lawsuit challenging OpenAI's transformation.

Encode argued that the proposed restructuring undermines OpenAI’s commitment to prioritize public safety. They warned that transitioning to a for-profit model would eliminate critical governance safeguards currently offered by the non-profit framework.

Hinton has previously voiced concerns about OpenAI’s safety protocols. In a press conference this October, he critiqued Altman for seeming more focused on profits than on safety, labeling the situation as "unfortunate." After departing Google, Hinton reflected on the potentially harmful consequences of AI on humanity, expressing regrets over his role in its development.

Musk has accused OpenAI's leaders of misleading him into co-founding the organization by emphasizing shared concerns about AI risks. Yet, OpenAI asserts that Musk expressed interest in a for-profit model as early as 2017. He initially launched a lawsuit against OpenAI in February, claiming it violated its non-profit mission by entering a partnership with Microsoft, though he dropped the case in June before refiling it in August.

Musk's own venture, xAI, operates as a public benefit corporation, a for-profit model that aims to achieve social and environmental goals. This is similar to the structure that OpenAI is currently pursuing.

Hinton, Musk, OpenAI