How Elon Musk left OpenAI, according to Greg Brockman

In late August 2017, OpenAI leaders met to discuss creating a for-profit subsidiary to commercialize its technology and raise funds for AGI. Elon Musk demanded full control of the company. Greg Brockman testified that Musk gave each co-founder a Tesla Model 3 around the same time. Brockman said Musk appeared angry when told the others would not give him control. Musk said "I decline," stood up, grabbed a painting of a Tesla, and asked when the others would be departing OpenAI. Musk stopped his regular donations to the operating budget after the meeting. Musk left the OpenAI board within six months but paid for office space shared with Neuralink until 2020. The 2017 events are central to Musk's current lawsuit against his co-founders. Brockman testified over two days and referenced a personal journal. An OpenAI model defeating the top DOTA II player convinced the group that compute was essential and that nonprofit fundraising alone would not suffice. Musk wanted unequivocal control of a for-profit arm. The other founders proposed equal shares or equity linked to cash investment. Brockman wrote in his journal that converting to a for-profit without Musk would be morally bankrupt. Musk left the board voluntarily in February 2018, stating OpenAI was on a path of certain failure. The for-profit subsidiary raised $1 billion from Microsoft in 2019 and $13 billion more over the next four years. Brockman said his stake is worth almost $30 billion. He testified that Musk did not understand AI and dismissed an early version of what became ChatGPT.