OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told the court he was uncomfortable with Elon Musk seeking full control of a proposed for-profit arm of the company|World Economic Forum|CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took the stand yesterday in a high-stakes courtroom battle that could shape the future of AI development and OpenAI’s leadership.
He was questioned on the company’s origins, its nonprofit mission, and his dealings with Elon Musk, a co-founder who exited in 2017.
During testimony in federal court in Oakland, Altman denied Musk’s claim that OpenAI betrayed its original nonprofit mission.
Sam Altman told the court he was uncomfortable with Musk seeking full control of a proposed for-profit arm of the company.
Musk sued OpenAI in 2024, accusing Altman and other leaders of turning the AI lab into a profit-driven business after Musk donated $38 million in its early years. He is seeking nearly $150 billion in damages and wants Altman removed from leadership.
The case comes as OpenAI considers a possible IPO that could value the company at nearly $1 trillion.