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Elon Muskmay be suing OpenAI , incriminate the ChatGPT Lord of abandoning the society ’s original mission as a nonprofit organization , but Josh Kushner , founder of Thrive Capital and one of the company ’s key investors , has nothing but good things to say about the world ’s rich Isle of Man .
“ I have deep wonder and esteem for Elon , ” Kushner said last week at Fortune Global Forum .
His position may not be a surprisal . Thrive is an investor in SpaceX , and Kushner has home ties to Donald Trump , whom Musk helped elect . Kushner is the youthful brother of the chairman - elect ’s son - in - law of nature Jared Kushner .
Indeed , when asked if he may be more distressed about his investment in OpenAI now that Musk has an oversized influence with the incoming White House , Kushner did n’t lose a hazard to praise Musk ’s political intention . ( Earlier last week , Trump appointed Musk to co - conduct the newly createdDepartment of Government Efficiency . )
“ My interpretation of [ Musk ’s ] excitement to enter in the government is very much driven by his desire to do right by everyone , ” Kushner said . “ I have extreme assurance that he is always going to do what he think is good for all Americans . ”
Musk is take on more action than just suing OpenAI , which he help set up anddonated $ 44 millionto . Last year , he launch an OpenAI competitor , xAI .
His lawsuit has named OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Colorado - laminitis Greg Brockman as defendants , but Kushner did n’t want to foreground the contravention between the co - laminitis of his portfolio company and Musk .
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“ I make love for sure that both Sam and Greg have deep regard and an immense amount of gratitude for all that Elon has done not just for OpenAI but for the rest of the world and humanity , ” Kushner said .
Two days after Fortune interview Kushner , Musk charge an amended complaint , which also namedMicrosoft , its current board appendage Reid Hoffman , and former OpenAI board extremity and Microsoft VP Dee Templeton as new defendant .
In the update cause , Musk ’s attorney debate that OpenAI is now “ actively trying to eliminate competitors ” like xAI by “ extracting hope from investors not to fund them . ”
It should be pointed out that many speculation Das Kapital firms often try not to back direct competition as part of their difference - of - involvement policies . However , it ’s also true that many investor have been willing to back the hottest militant AI companies if they were given the chance . Sequoia , for instance , was an early backer of OpenAI and has been a key investor inxAI .
Thrive was the lead backer of OpenAI ’s late $ 6.5 billion round of drinks , which assess the company at $ 157 billion . Kushner ’s fund bestow $ 1.3 billion of that cap , with $ 750 million coming from the firm ’s fund and $ 550 million from other investors through a limited purpose fomite , theNew York Times report . Thrive also reportedly has an option to invest anadditional $ 1 billionin OpenAI next year at the same $ 157 billion valuation if the fellowship hit its revenue goal of $ 11.6 billion . Thrive is not listed as an investor in xAI or any direct OpenAI competitor , according to its profile on PitchBook .
While Kushner ’s public praise of Musk indicates how little he wants to rock the gravy boat between the leaders of two of his high - profile portfolio company , Musk ’s allegation did n’t , perhaps , come in out of the blue . Sources told Reuters in Octoberthat OpenAI need its investor to avoid punt a specific tilt of other AI companies , include Musk ’s xAI .
In August , Thrive raised $ 5 billion across two funds : a $ 1 billion early - stage fund and $ 4 billion for investing in late - level company . The business firm , which was founded in 2009 , has a total of $ 15.5 billion in assets under management , accord to PitchBook data point .
