Elon Musk’s Lawyer Critiques OpenAI CEO in High-Stakes Trial
OAKLAND, Calif. — In a dramatic conclusion to OpenAI’s significant trial, Elon Musk’s lead attorney delivered a sharp critique of the tech company’s CEO, Sam Altman, while OpenAI’s legal team countered that Musk’s main allegations lacked merit.
During closing arguments, Musk’s lawyer, Stephen Moro, illustrated a scenario where Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman tried to dispel accusations that they prioritized profit over the company’s original mission of advancing AI for societal benefit.
“Picture yourself hiking and encountering a wooden bridge over a ravine,” Moro said in the federal court. “The river is far below, and it’s a bit unnerving. But then a woman at the entrance claims, ‘Don’t worry, the bridge is built on Sam Altman’s version of the truth.’”
“Would you cross that bridge? I doubt many would,” Moro continued, eliciting laughter from those present.
Throughout the proceedings, Altman sat quietly between Brockman and Joshua Achiam, OpenAI’s chief futurist. Meanwhile, Musk had made headlines the day before, recalling an incident where he labeled Brockman an “idiot” during a past all-hands meeting.
Currently, Musk is taking part in another engagement in Beijing with President Trump and a Chinese CEO.
OpenAI’s Sarah Eddy pushed back against Moro’s claims during her closing remarks, asserting that Musk’s testimony had been contradicted by several witnesses.
“All these witnesses agree on one thing,” Eddy noted. “No promises were made to Elon Musk. There’s no charitable trust for him to hold anyone to account.”
Musk, who has previously donated $38 million to OpenAI but seeks $150 billion in damages and a move to revoke the organization’s for-profit status, had no conditions tied to his donations in the early days of the company, according to Eddy. She highlighted a key moment when Altman was notably ousted from OpenAI in 2023, with many employees advocating for his return.
The trial, lasting three weeks, captured wide attention in Silicon Valley and beyond, featuring prominent tech figures. Alongside Musk, Altman, and Brockman, testimonies came from Musk’s adviser and girlfriend Siobhan Gillis, co-founder Ilya Sutskever, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Moro reminded jurors of a pivotal moment when he asked Altman if he was “completely trustworthy,” to which Altman hesitated, responding, “I believe so,” but expressing a desire to “revise” his answer afterward.
“Who answers a question like that?” Moro questioned, emphasizing that Altman’s credibility was crucial to the case: “If they can’t trust him, they can’t win.”
Microsoft’s lead attorney Russell Cohen also addressed the court, defending his client against Musk’s accusations of complicity in OpenAI’s alleged mission breaches.
The trial had a personal tone from the outset, with Musk stating, “this case is very simple: You can’t steal charity.” His social media comments, which included calling Altman “fraud Altman,” drew a reprimand from U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who urged Altman to control his social media responses.
At times, Musk’s legal commentary prompted interruptions from the judge, who pointed out, “Mr. Musk, you are not a lawyer.” Musk humorously replied, “Well, technically I’m on Law 101.”
Reflecting on Musk’s assertion about “stealing charity,” Altman expressed his difficulty in grasping the concept during his testimony.
Brockman also faced significant criticism, with Moro characterizing his demeanor as “arrogant” and “lacking common sense.” Diary entries from Brockman were displayed, revealing his ambitions about OpenAI and thoughts about financial success.
A legal expert, not involved in the case, suggested that Musk potentially strengthened his position throughout the trial, mentioning surprising moments during Altman’s cross-examination.
With jurors expected to begin deliberations on Monday, their verdict is, technically, just a recommendation, but Judge Rogers indicated it would likely be followed.
