The high-stakes legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI escalated dramatically as CEO Sam Altman took the witness stand and accused Musk of seeking complete dominance over every company he works with.
Testifying for nearly four hours before Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and a jury in California, Altman described Musk as a controlling figure who insisted on having absolute authority over organizations tied to his career. “Elon decided long ago that he would only work at companies he fully controlled,” Altman told the court in calm but pointed testimony that sharply contrasted with Musk’s earlier, more confrontational appearance.
The lawsuit centers on Musk’s claim that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission after he invested roughly $38 million in the company more than a decade ago. Musk argues that OpenAI’s transition into a profit-driven enterprise betrayed its founding promise to develop artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. He is seeking damages of up to $150 billion.
Altman pushed back strongly against those accusations, insisting OpenAI still maintains a philanthropic core while pursuing commercial growth to compete in the global AI race. He argued that Musk himself had aggressively advocated for massive fundraising efforts to challenge rivals like Google and described OpenAI’s nonprofit arm as one of the largest philanthropic entities in the United States.
One of the most explosive revelations came when Altman testified that Musk attempted to merge OpenAI with Tesla in late 2017. According to Altman, Musk offered OpenAI executives positions on Tesla’s board in an effort to convince them they would retain influence, but the proposal was ultimately rejected because Tesla’s mission did not align with OpenAI’s goals. Shortly after the failed proposal, Musk left the company.
Altman also portrayed Musk’s management style as deeply damaging to morale inside the organization. He recalled instances in which Musk allegedly proposed ranking employees and dismissing weaker performers, a suggestion OpenAI leadership rejected. Altman testified that many staff members felt relieved after Musk’s departure and said he did not believe Musk understood how to run a successful research laboratory.
The trial also revisited the dramatic 2023 ousting and rapid reinstatement of Altman as OpenAI’s CEO. Musk’s legal team argued the episode demonstrated that Altman had abandoned OpenAI’s founding ideals. Altman responded that the dismissal stemmed from internal misunderstandings and denied allegations that he manipulated the board into rehiring him.
Under aggressive cross-examination from Musk’s attorney Steven Molo, Altman faced accusations that he was untrustworthy and motivated by power. Court documents presented during questioning revealed that Altman once considered running for governor of California. Altman acknowledged the political ambitions but denied suggestions that he sought personal domination over OpenAI.
The courtroom showdown has become one of the most closely watched technology trials in the world, exposing the fierce rivalry, ideological fractures and enormous financial stakes driving the global artificial intelligence revolution.
