Oakland, which is playing host to the trial, is not exactly known as a tech hub.
Elon Musk testified in a high-stakes trial against OpenAI, accusing its leaders of abandoning the company's nonprofit mission and prioritizing profits over the public good. He claimed OpenAI effectively stole a charity he helped fund and wants billions in damages, while OpenAI's lawyers argued the lawsuit stems from Musk not getting his way. The trial, taking place in Oakland, could reshape the AI industry and influence OpenAI's future as a for-profit entity. Key figures like Sam Altman and Satya Nadella are expected to testify as the case unfolds over several weeks.
- ▪Elon Musk sued OpenAI in 2024, alleging it breached its founding mission by prioritizing commercial interests over public benefit.
- ▪Musk is seeking over $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, with proceeds directed to the OpenAI nonprofit.
- ▪OpenAI's legal team contends the lawsuit is motivated by Musk's personal grievances rather than altruism.
- ▪The trial could impact the broader AI landscape, affecting competitors and OpenAI's planned shift to a for-profit model.
- ▪Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presided over the trial and urged Musk and Altman to limit public commentary on social media.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
LiveUpdated April 28, 2026, 3:55 p.m. ETLive Updates: Elon Musk, Testifying at OpenAI Trial, Accuses Executives of Stealing a ‘Charity’Elon Musk, who split from OpenAI years after cofounding it as a nonprofit in 2015, said it was putting commercial interests over the public’s. A company lawyer said Mr. Musk had sued because he did not get his way.Share full articleElon Musk has sued OpenAI, which he cofounded with Sam Altman, right, and others.Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times, Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images window.registerInteractive && window.registerInteractive("100000010805361"); !function(){var e="gps_module_impressions",s="gps_suppress_module",t=new URLSearchParams(window.location.search),o="1"===t.get("gps_debug")?function(e,s){console.log("[gps]",e,void…
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