Home News Elon Musk Testifies in OpenAI Legal Battle Over Nonprofit Claims

Elon Musk Faces Intense Questioning in OpenAI Court Case

Apr 29, 2026
69 min
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Apr 29, 2026 21:31
'I literally was a fool': Musk grilled in OpenAI trial

## Musk's Testimony

Elon Musk, co-founder of OpenAI, faced rigorous questioning in a federal court in Oakland, California. He claimed that OpenAI, initially a nonprofit venture, had transformed into a profit-driven entity, contrary to its original mission. Musk expressed feeling misled, stating he provided $38 million in funding, which contributed to OpenAI's growth into an $800 billion company.

## Dispute Over OpenAI's Direction

Musk's legal battle centers on his assertion that OpenAI's leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, deviated from the nonprofit mission. He is pushing for the company to revert to its original structure and seeks the removal of Altman and President Greg Brockman. During cross-examination, Musk was challenged with past emails suggesting he had considered alternative corporate structures.

## Concerns Over AI Development

Musk's involvement with OpenAI stemmed from concerns about AI safety, particularly regarding Google's approach. He supported OpenAI with the belief it would prioritize societal interests and release technology as open source. Since his departure in 2018, OpenAI has become a leading AI firm, largely due to its ChatGPT product.

## Legal and Financial Stakes

The court will decide by late May if OpenAI breached its commitments to Musk. He is seeking up to $134 billion in damages, which he intends to redirect to the nonprofit. Meanwhile, Musk has launched his own AI initiative, xAI, which has merged with SpaceX, a company valued at $1.25 trillion.

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