A group of twelve former employees of OpenAI filed a legal brief in support of co-founder Elon Musk's lawsuit to maintain the non-profit status of the organization. This has added to the ongoing conflict surrounding the direction of the artificial intelligence company.

There is a disagreement between corporate leaders who want to prioritize investor control and those, including Musk, who argue that humanitarian goals should take precedence over business interests. Musk, also the CEO of Tesla, raised concerns about OpenAI deviating from its original mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity rather than for profit, leading to a lawsuit against the organization and its CEO, Sam Altman.

The former employees, who held technical and leadership positions at OpenAI, emphasized the importance of the nonprofit's oversight in carrying out its mission effectively. They highlighted that the structure was crucial for recruitment, as many employees were attracted to OpenAI because of its mission-driven approach.

OpenAI has defended its decision to shift away from the nonprofit's controlling role in favor of raising funds from investors. The company claims that this change will enhance its resources and enable it to pursue its mission effectively. OpenAI reassured that despite the transition, its core mission will remain unchanged.

The dispute between Musk and Altman over the organizational structure of OpenAI has led to a legal battle, with a jury trial expected to take place in the coming year. Musk's launch of his AI firm, xAI, has also added complexity to the situation, with allegations that he may be trying to impede a competitor.

Amid pressure from investors, OpenAI is required to complete its transition to a new structure in order to secure a significant fundraising round by the end of the year.