iWorld
Priyanka Khimani, WoMI host global music leaders at Soho House
MUMBAI: Call it a power chord with purpose. On 21 August, Priyanka Khimani, one of India’s most influential entertainment lawyers and founder of Women of Music India (WoMI), hosted the second edition of the Global Music Leaders Reception at Soho House, Mumbai. The evening, backed by tech disruptor Nothing, pulled together a rare mix of executives, artists and innovators from across the world to tune into conversations about music, creativity and cultural exchange.
What began in 2024 as a pioneering experiment has swiftly become one of the industry’s most sought-after, invitation-only gatherings. Conceived by Khimani and WoMI, the event aimed to spotlight India’s cultural heft on the world stage while bridging business and artistry.
“India is no longer just participating in the global conversation but we are also helping shape it,” said Khimani, also a prominent advocate for artists’ rights. “Through Women of Music India, I want to ensure that women, especially, are at the forefront of that change. This evening is where those conversations begin, and where lasting partnerships are born.”
Soho House, with its reputation as Mumbai’s creative hub, provided a fitting backdrop for the night, which blended dialogue with performance. Rising folk-fusion voice Mansa Jimmy, indie star Mali, and emerging acts Twinkle Agarwal and Akanksha Sethi lit up the stage, reminding guests that culture ultimately begins with the artist.
The guest list had global flair: Jasleen Royal, Raftaar, Natania Lalwani and Roc Nation’s Andrew Gold rubbed shoulders with Universal Music execs and India’s indie stars.
Nothing’s presence as cultural partner was no accident. Founded in London in 2020, the brand’s design-driven tech ethos chimed neatly with the evening’s celebration of innovation and artistry.
By the close, the Global Music Leaders Reception had once again proved its role as more than a cocktail party. It was a bridge between India and the international music community, and a sign of how cultural capital is increasingly flowing both ways.
iWorld
OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk’s lawsuit ahead of trial
Company calls claims “baseless” and accuses Musk of trying to disrupt a rival.
MUMBAI: When the stakes are measured in billions and egos are involved, even Silicon Valley titans can turn a courtroom into a battlefield. OpenAI has issued a sharp public response to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit, accusing the billionaire of filing the case to harass a competitor rather than address genuine concerns. In a strongly worded statement shared on its official X account, OpenAI described Musk’s allegations as “baseless” and suggested the lawsuit is an attempt to disrupt the company as the case heads toward trial later this month in Oakland, California.
The response comes after Musk’s legal team recently amended the complaint, proposing that any damages potentially exceeding $150 billion should go to OpenAI’s nonprofit entity rather than to Musk personally. OpenAI questioned the timing and motive behind this change, calling it a late-stage attempt to “pretend to change his tune” on the nonprofit structure.
The company further labelled the lawsuit a “harassment campaign”, arguing that Musk’s actions are driven by personal rivalry, ego, and a desire for greater control and financial upside.
At the heart of the dispute is Musk’s claim that OpenAI has abandoned its original nonprofit mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. A co-founder who left in 2018, Musk is seeking governance changes, including the removal of CEO Sam Altman from the nonprofit board, and the return of certain financial gains linked to Altman and President Greg Brockman.
OpenAI has firmly rejected these allegations, maintaining that its current hybrid structure, a public-benefit corporation overseen by a nonprofit parent remains true to its long-term goals. The company has also previously accused Musk of anti-competitive behaviour aimed at weakening its leadership.
As the case prepares for a jury trial, this public exchange highlights the deepening rift between two of the most influential figures in the AI revolution and raises broader questions about governance, mission, and power in the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.
In the high-stakes game of AI, it seems the real drama isn’t just inside the models, it’s playing out in courtrooms too.
