The OPs point wasn’t that OpenAis financial situation is comparable to Apples. It was that the likely cost of litigation is a drop in the ocean for OpenAi too despite their comparative lack of cash to burn. Legal disputes like this cost in the hundreds of millions over many years, so well below 1% OpenAis last single funding round in single year. If they got a tiny benefit from this (very gross) behaviour it may be finically well worth while. OpenAI may very well go under IMO, but this will barely be a straw on the camels back.

Agree on the fees.

At the same discovery process in trade secret litigation is invasive and time-consuming and likely be a heavy tax on the focus of senior leadership.

This also is a complication to their IPO. The financial impact isn't just about the lawyer's fees.

On the plus side, the whole hardware thing was possibly a stupid distraction anyway, having to flush it might not be the worse thing.

OpenAI has no shortage of vc money sources.

For now.