In a dramatic escalation of the legal battle between OpenAI and its estranged co-founder Elon Musk, attorneys for the artificial intelligence startup have filed a motion calling for Musk to be enjoined from further "unlawful and unfair action" against the company. The filing, submitted on Wednesday, accuses Musk of causing harm to OpenAI's ability to govern and fulfill its mission, as well as threatening the public interest.

The legal dispute centers around OpenAI's plans to convert from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity, a move that Musk claims is a betrayal of the company's original mission to ensure AI research benefits all humanity. Musk, who was once a key supporter of OpenAI, is now seeking to halt the conversion, alleging that the startup has abandoned its charitable purpose.

OpenAI's attorneys argue that Musk's actions, including a recent fake takeover bid, are designed to disrupt the company's future and undermine its ability to fulfill its mission. The filing states that OpenAI is "resilient" but warns that Musk's continued attacks could cause greater harm to the company and the public interest.

The legal battle has been ongoing since March, when a federal judge denied Musk's request for a preliminary injunction to halt OpenAI's transition to a for-profit entity. The case is now set to go to a jury trial in spring 2026. However, the stakes are high for OpenAI, which reportedly needs to complete its for-profit conversion by 2025 or risk relinquishing some of the capital it has raised in recent months.

The controversy has also drawn in other organizations, including nonprofits and labor groups like the California Teamsters, which have petitioned California Attorney General Rob Bonta to stop OpenAI from becoming a for-profit entity. The petitioners claim that OpenAI has "failed to protect its charitable assets" and is actively "subverting its charitable mission to advance safe artificial intelligence."

The legal battle has significant implications for the future of AI research and development. OpenAI is a leading player in the field, and its conversion to a for-profit entity could have far-reaching consequences for the industry as a whole. The outcome of the case will likely have a major impact on the direction of AI research and the role of for-profit companies in the field.

As the legal battle continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the court will rule on Musk's claims and OpenAI's plans for its future. One thing is clear, however: the stakes are high, and the outcome of this case will have significant implications for the future of AI research and development.