‘It’s not OK to steal a charity’: Elon Musk takes stand in blockbuster trial
Elon Musk testified in a high-stakes California trial alleging that Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Microsoft betrayed OpenAI's original nonprofit mission by turning it into a for-profit venture. Musk claims the shift violated founding principles meant to ensure AI's safe, open development for humanity. The trial, expected to last three weeks, could have major implications for the future of AI governance and competition. OpenAI and Microsoft deny wrongdoing, arguing Musk's lawsuit stems from his own ambitions in the AI race.
- ▪Elon Musk filed the lawsuit in 2024, accusing Altman, Brockman, and Microsoft of diverting OpenAI from its nonprofit, open-source mission.
- ▪Musk argues that Microsoft's $2 billion investment and control over OpenAI's IP broke commitments to keep the organization altruistic.
- ▪OpenAI's lawyers claim Musk sought control of the company and tried to merge it with Tesla, withdrawing funding when he didn't get his way.
- ▪The trial features high-profile testimony, including expected appearances by Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
- ▪OpenAI's shift to a for-profit model in 2017 included investor profit caps, but Musk claims the Microsoft deal fundamentally undermined its mission.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","dateModified":"2026-04-28T19:40:25Z","datePublished":"2026-04-28T19:40:25Z","description":"All eyes are on the world’s richest person as the high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman begins.","headline":"‘It’s not OK to steal a charity’: Elon Musk takes stand in blockbuster trial","keywords":"Courts, AI, Elon Musk, Just in, Sam Altman, OpenAI","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Barbara…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Sydney Morning Herald
