Link: Moxie Marlinspike has a privacy-conscious alternative to ChatGPT | TechCrunch

Elon Musk is seeking a staggering $79 billion to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that OpenAI deviated from its non-profit origins, according to Bloomberg. This claim is attributed to expert witness C. Paul Wazzan, a noted financial economist.

Wazzan calculated that Musk should receive up to 26.8% of OpenAI's current massive $500 billion valuation due to his initial $38 million investment and early contributions. This represents a potential 3,500-fold return on his investment.

His analysis also factored in Musk’s technical and business inputs to OpenAI’s team, estimating damages due to Microsoft and OpenAI ranging from $13.3 billion to $109.4 billion. Microsoft owns a 27% stake in OpenAI.

Musk’s legal stance is that of an initial investor deserving exponentially high returns from his early contributions. However, critics argue that the enormity of the claim highlights that the lawsuit could be more about strategic control than financial recovery.

Despite Musk’s personal net worth approximating $700 billion, making him the richest globally, a $134 billion gain from this legal battle would modestly increase his fortune. This lawsuit fits into a broader narrative, as depicted by OpenAI, of Musk using litigation as a form of harassment.

The trial, set to start in April in Oakland, California, is widely anticipated, with OpenAI preemptively alerting stakeholders of potential headline-grabbing assertions by Musk as the date approaches. #

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Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.