Elon Musk considered calling OpenAI ‘Freeman’ because ‘it reminds me of the scientist protagonist in Half-Life’
Internal documents released during an ongoing legal dispute between OpenAI co-founders Elon Musk and Sam Altman have revealed previously unknown details about the company’s early naming discussions. In a 2015 email exchange, Musk proposed calling the artificial intelligence research company “Freeman,” a name he chose because it reminded him of Gordon Freeman, the scientist protagonist from the video game Half-Life.
The documentation, which emerged as part of the contentious legal battle between the former partners, provides a window into OpenAI’s formative period. The emails involved Musk, co-founder Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman as they discussed various aspects of the company’s setup and funding strategy.
The documents also reveal the involvement of Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, who contributed over $20 million to OpenAI and served as the sole member of an informal advisory board in 2018. According to the records, Newell even reached out to Musk personally to arrange a SpaceX tour for legendary game designer Hideo Kojima.
The release of these internal communications highlights the interconnected nature of the tech and gaming industries, while underscoring the dramatic fallout between Musk and Altman—a dispute that continues to generate headlines through various legal proceedings.