Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and co-founder of OpenAI, testified on Tuesday at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, in a bitter legal dispute with former ally Sam Altman. The trial, which could have far-reaching consequences for the future of artificial intelligence, pits Musk against Altman, Greg Brockman, and Microsoft over the direction of the AI company.
Musk’s lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleges that Altman and Brockman betrayed OpenAI’s founding mission as a non-profit organisation dedicated to benefiting humanity. Musk’s attorney, Steven Molo, argued that the defendants stole a charity, stating: “It’s not OK to steal a charity.” Molo quoted OpenAI’s original mission statement and claimed that Altman and Brockman, with Microsoft’s help, abandoned the company’s commitment to safe, open AI development. Musk is seeking damages and Altman’s removal from OpenAI’s board.
In contrast, OpenAI’s lawyer, William Savitt, told the jury that Musk was motivated by sour grapes because “Mr Musk didn’t get his way with OpenAI.” Savitt claimed Musk attempted to bully the founding members, sought control of OpenAI, and tried to merge it with Tesla. He said Musk’s ultimate goal was not preserving non-profit status but winning the AI race against Google. Savitt asserted that no promises were ever made to Musk that OpenAI would remain a non-profit indefinitely.
Musk was the first witness called, and his lawyer began by exploring his life story, including his move from South Africa to Canada and eventually the United States. Musk described working as a lumberjack and founding multiple companies such as SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink. He said he works 80 to 100 hours a week and owns no vacation homes or yachts. On AI, Musk predicted it could become “smarter than any human” by next year and compared controlling advanced AI to raising a very smart child, emphasising the importance of instilling values like honesty and integrity.
The trial is expected to last three weeks, with a nine-person jury selected on Monday. The case has already drawn significant attention due to the prominence of the individuals involved and the potential implications for AI governance. Musk’s legal team painted a picture of betrayal and ambition, while OpenAI maintained that the lawsuit is an attempt to undermine its growth and benefit Musk’s own AI venture, xAI.
