OpenAI lawyers question Meta’s role in Elon Musk’s $97B takeover bid

OpenAI has filed a request for Meta to produce documents that could show whether the company had any dealings with Elon Musk and xAI regarding a proposed acquisition or investment.

The details were disclosed Thursday in a filing tied to Musk’s ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI. The filing revealed that Meta was subpoenaed in June for documents concerning Musk’s unsolicited $97 billion bid for the ChatGPT-maker earlier this year. OpenAI ultimately declined the bid. It is unclear whether such documents exist.

Musk’s lawsuit challenges OpenAI’s conversion of its for-profit entity into a public benefit corporation, a move the company argues was needed to secure investors and prepare for a public offering. Musk, an early investor, claims the restructuring violates the company’s mission.

Meta has opposed the subpoena, arguing in court that Musk and xAI already have access to relevant information. The company also contends its internal discussions about OpenAI’s restructuring are not pertinent to the case.