Elon Musk arrived at court in Oakland on Wednesday for the second day of his testimony in the case against Sam Altman and OpenAI. The Tesla CEO repeated accusations that Altman 'stole a charity' and endangered humanity with AI, leading to testy exchanges with OpenAI's attorneys and multiple interventions from the judge.
Cross-Examination Heats Up
Musk often refused to answer questions directly, prompting Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to instruct him to give simple yes-or-no responses. At one point, Musk told OpenAI's counsel, 'Your questions are designed to trick me, essentially.' The judge cut him off when he began a hypothetical about 'Have you stopped beating your wife?' causing gasps in the courtroom.
Allegations and Defense
Musk accuses OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman of breaching the founding agreement to build AI for humanity's benefit, instead converting the non-profit to a for-profit structure and enriching themselves. He seeks $134 billion in damages, removal of Altman and Brockman, and reversal of the for-profit conversion. OpenAI rejects the claims as 'motivated by jealousy,' stating Musk was aware of for-profit plans and left in 2018 after a failed takeover bid.
OpenAI's lead counsel William Savitt presented emails showing Musk discussed for-profit structures as early as 2015, including a suggestion at a meeting in a 'haunted mansion.' Musk responded, 'I don't think creating a for-profit as an adjunct to a non-profit is breaking a promise.'
Musk's Testimony and Courtroom Drama
Musk's lawyer, Steven Molo, painted him as a humanitarian tech pioneer, showing emails where engineers praised his knowledge. However, Musk also called OpenAI's safety team 'jackasses,' which he claimed was a joke. 'You occasionally have to use strong language to get people to change their course,' he said.
The courtroom was packed with media and eager spectators, some lining up before dawn. Judge Gonzalez Rogers threatened to shut down an overflow room if observers continued taking photos and videos, violating court rules.
Key Points of Contention
- Musk claims he was 'hoodwinked' around the time ChatGPT's release in late 2022, stating, 'I lost trust in Altman, and I was really concerned they were trying to steal a charity.'
- OpenAI argues Musk left the board after attempting to merge the company with Tesla and was always aware of for-profit plans.
- Musk's departure from OpenAI's board in 2018 is disputed; he says he left due to being too busy, while OpenAI alleges a failed power grab.
Broader Implications
The trial is closely watched in Silicon Valley as it pits two tech titans against each other. OpenAI plans to go public later this year at a $1 trillion valuation, and any changes to leadership or structure could threaten the IPO. The case is being heard by a nine-person jury in federal court in Oakland, with the judge deciding any remedy if OpenAI is found liable. The trial is expected to last about three weeks.
