Court-revealed documents indicate that in 2017, Greg Brockman, one of the co-founders of OpenAI, hatched a plan to "edge out" Elon Musk. In his personal notes, Brockman cast doubt on Musk's intentions, delving into Musk's financial motivations. He contended that agreeing to Musk's conditions would compromise the team's strategic choices and economic stakes, with the team itself expressing a desire for Musk's exit. OpenAI has verified the authenticity of these notes but refrained from commenting on the sensitive details, hinting at long-held intentions among its top executives concerning the shift to a for-profit model.

Tensions between Musk and OpenAI, including its CEO Sam Altman, have surfaced in the public eye. Initially, Musk filed a lawsuit, later withdrew it, and then re-filed in federal court. Both camps have engaged in heated exchanges on social media platforms. This legal confrontation has escalated into what some are calling a "showdown of the century," with Musk demanding damages and punitive compensation estimated between $79 billion and $134 billion.