Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have an advanced historical past. In 2023, the 2 vowed to combat one another in a cage match that by no means occurred. However by early 2025, when each had been cozying as much as the newly-elected President Donald Trump, they had been apparently on extra pleasant phrases.
In February of that yr, Zuckerberg texted Musk approvingly about his work with the now-defunct Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE). “Appears to be like like DOGE is making progress,” the Meta CEO texted. “I’ve acquired our groups on alert to take down content material doxxing or threatening the folks in your workforce. Let me know if there’s the rest I can do to assist.”
The texts, which had been printed Friday in court docket paperwork as a part of Musk’s lawsuit in opposition to Sam Altman and OpenAI, are dated February 3, 2025. That is only a few weeks after Zuckerberg introduced Meta’s pivot away from content material moderation in favor of “free expression.” It is also the identical day {that a} US Legal professional mentioned he would shield DOGE workers from “disgruntled” critics.
Musk responded to Zuckerberg’s message with a coronary heart and adopted up with an unrelated matter: OpenAI. He requested Zuckerberg if he was “open to the thought of bidding on the OpenAI IP with me and a few others.” Zuckerberg requested to “focus on it dwell” and Musk mentioned he would name the subsequent day. Earlier paperwork disclosed within the case present that Musk had invited Zuckerberg to assist him purchase OpenAI, although he by no means formally signed on to the bid.
In a separate submitting additionally made public Friday, Musk’s attorneys argued that his exchanges with the Meta CEO should be excluded from the lawsuit. “Musk’s private relationships and communications – together with with different high-profile people – are additionally tangential and prejudicial,” they wrote. “Defendants included of their exhibit checklist for trial, for instance, a number of non-public exchanges between Musk and Mark Zuckerberg discussing Musk’s political exercise and this lawsuit. These latest communications don’t have anything to do with Musk’s claims and are nothing greater than Defendants’ try and stoke damaging sentiments towards Musk due to his affiliation with Zuckerberg.”
A Meta spokesperson declined to remark.
In the identical submitting, Musk’s attorneys additionally take situation with Altman’s attorneys asking about Musk’s alleged ketamine use and his attendance at Burning Man. A transcript from a video deposition with Musk indicated he was requested if had taken “rhino ket” at Burning Man in 2017. Musk mentioned no, in line with the transcript.
“Any implication that music festivals or medication have any relevance to this case is outlandish, and the way Musk spends his free time is equally irrelevant,” his attorneys wrote. A choose dominated earlier this month that OpenAI’s attorneys can be permitted to ask “restricted” questions on Burning Man, however not ketamine.
