What's Happened So Far at the Musk v. OpenAI Trial - News Directory 3

What’s Happened So Far at the Musk v. OpenAI Trial

May 11, 2026 Ahmed Hassan Business
News Context
At a glance
  • Elon Musk is engaged in a legal battle against OpenAI and Microsoft in Oakland, California, alleging that the artificial intelligence company abandoned its original nonprofit mission to become...
  • The lawsuit targets OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, whom Musk claims unjustly enriched themselves by straying from the organization's founding purpose.
  • Musk has accused the company of aiding and abetting a breach of charitable trust regarding OpenAI's conversion to a for-profit model.
Original source: nytimes.com

Elon Musk is engaged in a legal battle against OpenAI and Microsoft in Oakland, California, alleging that the artificial intelligence company abandoned its original nonprofit mission to become a for-profit entity.

The lawsuit targets OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, whom Musk claims unjustly enriched themselves by straying from the organization’s founding purpose. Musk further alleges that the executives deceived him into providing donations to help establish the company.

Microsoft is also a co-defendant in the case. Musk has accused the company of aiding and abetting a breach of charitable trust regarding OpenAI’s conversion to a for-profit model.

During court proceedings on April 29, 2026, Musk spent nearly three days on the stand. The trial has been characterized by tensions between Musk and OpenAI’s legal representation, including instances where Musk accused OpenAI attorney William Savitt of attempting to trick me.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has intervened during the trial to maintain order. The judge has scolded the involved parties and specifically warned them to cease discussions regarding whether artificial intelligence will lead to human extinction. Judge Gonzalez Rogers also instructed Musk to provide direct answers to the questions posed during his testimony.

OpenAI and Microsoft have contested Musk’s claims, arguing that Musk previously supported the creation of a for-profit arm for the company. The defense contends that the lawsuit is a strategic move to undermine a competitor after Musk failed to secure complete control over OpenAI.

A central point of contention during the trial involves Musk’s departure from the OpenAI board in February 2018. Attorney William Savitt suggested that Musk resigned because he was prevented from taking unilateral control of the organization.

Musk testified that his decision to leave the board in February 2018 was based on a need to focus on his other business ventures, specifically Tesla and SpaceX.