OpenAI Alleges Musk And Zuckerberg Coordinated Takeover Bid

In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI, the AI firm is now turning its attention to Meta. Court filings reveal that OpenAI is seeking evidence related to potential coordinated plans between Musk and Meta to acquire or invest in the ChatGPT creator.

OpenAI Subpoenas Meta Over Musk Takeover Bid

Lawyers for OpenAI have subpoenaed Meta for documents concerning its possible involvement in Elon Musk's unsolicited $97 billion takeover bid, which was proposed in February and ultimately rejected by OpenAI's board. The request, made public in a recent court brief, stems from the discovery that Musk communicated with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the acquisition offer. These discussions allegedly included talks about potential financing arrangements or investments from Meta.

OpenAI is now seeking a court order to compel Meta to produce this evidence after Meta objected to the initial subpoena in July. The request extends to any documents and communications Meta might have regarding any potential restructuring of OpenAI, which is the central issue in Musk's lawsuit.

Meta's Response and Legal Maneuvering

Meta has pushed back against the request. A spokesperson for the company highlighted a part of OpenAI's own filing which notes that neither Meta nor Zuckerberg signed Musk's letter of intent to acquire the company. Meta's legal team has asked the court to deny OpenAI’s request, arguing that Musk and his company, xAI, are the appropriate sources for any relevant information. They also maintain that Meta's internal discussions about OpenAI’s corporate structure are not pertinent to the case.

A Rivalry Brewing in the AI Arena

This legal entanglement unfolds against a backdrop of intense competition in the AI sector. Meta has been aggressively investing in its own frontier AI models to challenge OpenAI's dominance. Court filings from a separate case revealed that Meta executives were obsessed with developing a model superior to GPT-4 in 2023. By early 2025, reports suggested Zuckerberg was infuriated as Meta's AI models lagged behind the industry standard.

In response, Zuckerberg has increased the pressure, successfully poaching top AI researchers from OpenAI, including Shengjia Zhao, a co-creator of ChatGPT who now leads research at Meta's Superintelligence Labs. The company has also made significant investments, including a reported $14 billion in Scale AI and approaches to other AI labs for potential acquisitions.

From Cage Match to Strategic Alliance?

While the full extent of the discussions between Musk and Zuckerberg remains unclear, the suggestion of a partnership is a stark reversal of their public rivalry. Just two years ago, the two billionaires were publicly discussing a potential cage match. The emergence of OpenAI as a formidable threat in the AI landscape may have been enough for Musk and Zuckerberg to consider setting aside their differences for a common strategic goal.

The Core of Musk's Lawsuit Against OpenAI

This new development is a subplot in the larger lawsuit filed by Musk against OpenAI, where he was a co-founder and early investor. Musk's primary complaint targets OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit research lab to a for-profit entity, arguing that this move betrays the company's founding mission. He has actively worked to disrupt this conversion, which OpenAI deems necessary to secure funding and potentially go public.