A legal battle may be brewing as Elon Musk considers taking OpenAI to court, claiming the ChatGPT creator has veered from the nonprofit goals it initially embraced. Nonetheless, Josh Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and among the company’s significant investors, remains highly complimentary about the wealthiest individual on the planet.

“I hold Elon in deep esteem and regard,” mentioned Kushner during last week’s Fortune Global Forum.

This stance might not astonish many. Thrive’s portfolio includes SpaceX, and Kushner shares familial links with Donald Trump, whom Musk supported in electoral efforts. Jared Kushner, the president-elect’s son-in-law, happens to be Josh Kushner’s elder sibling.

When probed about any apprehensions regarding his interest in OpenAI, given Musk’s growing clout with the new political regime, Kushner seized the opportunity to commend Musk’s political endeavors. (Recently, Trump selected Musk to co-chair the newly established Department of Government Efficiency.)

“My reading of [Musk’s] enthusiasm to engage in governance is that he is intensely motivated by his will to do good for everyone,” Kushner commented. “I am extremely reassured that he consistently aims to act in the interest of every American.”

Beyond considering litigation against OpenAI, which he co-founded and aided with $44 million, Musk is proactive. He initiated xAI, a rival to OpenAI, last year.

The lawsuit identifies OpenAI leader Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman as the accused, though Kushner opted not to illuminate the quarrel between Musk and the leaders of his investment enterprise. 

“I am aware that Sam and Greg hold a profound sense of appreciation and respect toward Elon for his contributions not solely to OpenAI but to humanity overall,” stated Kushner.

Shortly after Fortune’s dialogue with Kushner, Musk submitted an updated legal complaint, extending allegations to Microsoft and named Reid Hoffman, a present board member, and Dee Templeton, a former OpenAI board associate and Microsoft executive, as fresh defendants.

The revised legal document from Musk’s lawyers contends that OpenAI is presently “working to stifle competitors” similar to xAI by “securing pledges from financiers not to back them.”

It’s noteworthy that numerous venture capitalists often avoid supporting direct adversaries due to conflict-of-interest guidelines. Still, it’s evident that many backers are receptive to investing in hot competitive AI enterprises presented with the possibility. Sequoia, for instance, was an early supporter of OpenAI and continues to play an influential role in xAI.

Thrive spearheaded OpenAI’s recent $6.5 billion funding round, assigning the company a valuation of $157 billion. Kushner’s fund committed $1.3 billion to this amount, with $750 million sourced from the firm’s reserves, and the remainder $550 million secured through a special vehicle from other backers, as detailed by the New York Times. Thrive purportedly also retains an option for an added $1 billion investment in OpenAI the subsequent year, contingent on reaching a revenue milestone of $11.6 billion. Thrive is not cited as an investor in xAI or any OpenAI rival, according to PitchBook documentation. 

While Kushner’s affirmative remarks regarding Musk suggest reluctance to unsettle the leaders of his prime portfolio enterprises, Musk’s claims do not appear entirely unanticipated. Sources disclosed to Reuters in October that OpenAI had advised its financiers to abstain from investing in specific AI competitors, inclusive of Musk’s xAI.

Back in August, Thrive gathered $5 billion across two separate funds: a $1 billion fund for early-stage investments and $4 billion earmarked for later-stage ventures. Founded in 2009, the firm reportedly manages assets totaling $15.5 billion, drawing from PitchBook intelligence.