Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think you're misreading the intention here. The intention of closing it up as they approach AGI is to protect against dangerous applications of the technology. That is how I read it anyway and I don't see a reason to interpret it in a nefarious way.
"Tools for me, but not for thee."
So, they cant release science that the googles of the world can use to their advantage BUT they kind of have to because that's their whole mission.
The whole thing was sort of dead on arrival and Ilya's email dating to 2016 (!!!!) only amplifies that.