Elon Musk is testifying for the second day in a landmark trial against Sam Altman and OpenAI, accusing them of betraying the company's founding promise to remain a nonprofit dedicated to humanity's benefit. OpenAI denies the claims, stating there were no such promises and that Musk's suit aims to undermine their growth.
In a high-stakes federal trial in Oakland, California, Elon Musk took the stand for a second day, accusing OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman of betraying the company's original mission to remain a nonprofit for humanity's benefit. Musk, wearing a a black suit and tie, stated, "It turned out to be true," regarding his accusations. OpenAI, with CEO Sam Altman in attendance, has vehemently rejected these allegations, arguing there were never promises for the company to perpetually remain a nonprofit. They contend Musk's civil lawsuit is an attempt to hinder OpenAI's rapid expansion and bolster his competing AI venture, xAI, launched in 2023. During cross-examination, Musk pushed back against questions concerning early emails about making OpenAI a for-profit entity and tax deductions from his donations, calling the questions "designed to trick me." Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers intervened, leading to a contentious exchange where Musk compared a simple "yes/no" answer to "have you stopped beating your wife?" The trial, expected to last four weeks, carries significant implications for the future of artificial intelligence, potentially leading to Altman's ouster from OpenAI's board and derailing its IPO plans. Musk detailed his evolving views on Altman and OpenAI, from initial excitement to a belief in late 2022 that they were "betraying their promise." OpenAI's lawyers assert that Musk sought to control the company for himself, a claim Musk countered by explaining that his initial pursuit of a majority stake and board control would have been diluted over time, similar to his stake in Tesla. OpenAI, however, maintains there were no assurances he would eventually relinquish a board majority.
