Why read this: This short article gives A2 students a real news story about two names they already know: Elon Musk and ChatGPT. The topic is simple to follow because it is a fight between two people, but it also opens up bigger ideas — what a 'nonprofit' is, what a 'court case' is, and why a 'jury' has to listen only to facts. Students learn the story of OpenAI step by step, from 2015 to today, in short sentences they can read alone.
What to notice: Notice the time order in the text: 2015, 2018, 2019, and now. These dates help students follow how the story changed over ten years. Also notice the words 'but' and 'so'. They show a contrast ('But Musk left OpenAI in 2018') or a result ('So in 2019, OpenAI made a new part'). Notice that the article gives two sides — what Musk says, and what OpenAI says back. The last paragraph also explains a hard idea in simple words: a jury must listen to facts, not feelings. Each gloss term ('artificial intelligence', 'civil case', 'jury selection') is explained in the margin.
Skills practised: Reading: following a short news story in time order; finding what each side says in a fight. Vocabulary: learning key words from law and business — 'court', 'judge', 'jury', 'nonprofit', 'civil case', 'jury selection' — many glossed in the margin. Writing: using simple past tense to tell a story ('Musk helped start OpenAI in 2015. He left in 2018.'). Speaking: telling a partner in two or three short sentences why Musk is angry and what OpenAI says back.
Musk and Altman: A Big Court Fight About OpenAI
Twelve normal people will help decide a famous case about the company that makes ChatGPT.
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Elon Musk is a famous tech leader. He is suing the company OpenAI. OpenAI makes ChatGPT, a popular tool. Sam Altman is the boss of OpenAI. The two men will meet in court on Monday.
Musk helped start OpenAI in 2015. At that time, OpenAI was a nonprofit. A nonprofit is a company that does not work for money. Its job is to help people. Musk gave about 44 million dollars to OpenAI in the early years.
But Musk left OpenAI in 2018 after a big fight with the leaders. Later, he started his own AI company called xAI. After Musk left, OpenAI needed more money. So in 2019, OpenAI made a new part of the company that could earn money.
Now Musk says this change was wrong. He says OpenAI promised to build safe AI , not for . He wants the judge to make OpenAI a nonprofit again. He also wants Altman to lose his job.
OpenAI says Musk is not telling the truth. The company says Musk wanted the new for-profit part too. They say he is angry because he could not control the company.
This is a , not a crime case. A group of normal people will sit on the jury. The judge will pick a large group for on Monday. It is hard to find people who do not already have strong feelings about Musk and Altman. They are very famous. But the law only asks the jury to listen to the facts in court and decide fairly.
Elon Musk is a famous tech leader. He is suing the company OpenAI. OpenAI makes ChatGPT, a popular tool. Sam Altman is the boss of OpenAI. The two men will meet in court on Monday.
Musk helped start OpenAI in 2015. At that time, OpenAI was a nonprofit. A nonprofit is a company that does not work for money. Its job is to help people. Musk gave about 44 million dollars to OpenAI in the early years.
But Musk left OpenAI in 2018 after a big fight with the leaders. Later, he started his own AI company called xAI. After Musk left, OpenAI needed more money. So in 2019, OpenAI made a new part of the company that could earn money.
Now Musk says this change was wrong. He says OpenAI promised to build safe AI , not for . He wants the judge to make OpenAI a nonprofit again. He also wants Altman to lose his job.
OpenAI says Musk is not telling the truth. The company says Musk wanted the new for-profit part too. They say he is angry because he could not control the company.
This is a , not a crime case. A group of normal people will sit on the jury. The judge will pick a large group for on Monday. It is hard to find people who do not already have strong feelings about Musk and Altman. They are very famous. But the law only asks the jury to listen to the facts in court and decide fairly.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
Why is Elon Musk taking OpenAI to court?
- 02
What year did Musk leave OpenAI?
- 03
Why is it hard to find a fair jury for this case?
- 04
Name three important things you learned about OpenAI from this article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe what Musk wants the judge to do, and what OpenAI says back.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
Why is Elon Musk taking OpenAI to court?
- 02
What year did Musk leave OpenAI?
- 03
Why is it hard to find a fair jury for this case?
- 04
Name three important things you learned about OpenAI from this article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe what Musk wants the judge to do, and what OpenAI says back.
Suggested length: ~50 words