A jury is set to deliberate on a high-stakes legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, centering on allegations that OpenAI breached its charitable mission by prioritizing profit. The case hinges on whether the AI company’s restructuring of its non-profit and for-profit entities constitutes a violation of its founding principles. If found liable, OpenAI could face a redistribution of $134bn from its for-profit arm to its non-profit organization, complicating its plans to go public at a $1tn valuation.
Testimonies and Personal Attacks
Musk, who testified for three days, framed Altman as a deceitful operator who abandoned OpenAI’s humanitarian goals. “It’s not OK to steal a charity,” he asserted, though his cross-examination grew contentious when challenged on his knowledge of OpenAI’s financial strategies. The judge intervened after Musk compared questions to being asked, “Have you stopped beating your wife?”
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Altman, testifying later, countered that Musk was an erratic co-founder who sought control over the company. He accused Musk of attempting to “kill” OpenAI’s charitable mission, stating, “Mr Musk did try to kill it.” Former executives, including Mira Murati and Natasha McCauley, testified that Altman frequently contradicted himself and created internal strife, though all had since left the company.
Personal and Professional Tensions
The trial took a personal turn when Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, OpenAI’s lawyer, noted Musk’s absence, citing his diplomatic trip to China. “Mr Musk isn’t here today. My clients are,” she said, highlighting the irony of Musk’s absence after his own testimony.
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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, called as a witness, criticized the 2023 board attempt to oust Altman, calling it “amateur city” and warning of mass employee departures. Meanwhile, OpenAI president Greg Brockman faced scrutiny over a personal diary, which Musk’s lawyers presented as evidence of financial ambition. Brockman called the documents “deeply personal” but denied any shame in their contents.
Allegations of Deception
Zilis, mother of four of Musk’s children and a former OpenAI board member, denied acting as an informant for Musk. A text exchange between her and a friend, revealed during the trial, underscored the personal stakes: “When the father of your babies starts a competitive effort and will recruit out of OpenAI there’s nothing to be done,” she wrote.
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The trial’s closing arguments left jurors with a complex portrait of both men—Musk as a visionary betrayed by Altman, and Altman as a leader whose tactics alienated colleagues. The outcome could reshape OpenAI’s future and set a precedent for corporate governance in AI development.
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