Musk’s Candid Remarks in AI Trial
During the second day of his trial concerning the future of AI, Elon Musk expressed regret over placing his trust in Sam Altman, referring to himself as a “fool.” In a courtroom filled with onlookers in Oakland, California, he reflected, “I was stupid to give them free money to start a startup,” revealing he contributed $38 million, which eventually helped create an $800 billion company.
Musk had accused Altman the previous day of failing to uphold his commitment to establish OpenAI as a nonprofit. Tensions rose as Musk confronted OpenAI’s lawyer, William Savitt, during cross-examination.
Upon hearing that OpenAI had secured $10 billion from Microsoft in 2023, Musk felt it became evident that OpenAI had strayed from its intended mission. He criticized Altman for providing what he termed “dishonest” reassurances regarding OpenAI’s nonprofit status. “I texted Sam Altman saying, ‘What the hell is going on? This is a bait-and-switch,'” Musk recounted.
In court, Musk articulated a shift in his perception of OpenAI, categorizing it into three phases: initial “enthusiastic support,” which transitioned to “growing skepticism,” and finally a realization that “they’re looting nonprofits.” Musk indicated they are currently in the last phase.
Throughout the testimony, Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman were present, paying close attention and occasionally jotting down notes.
Savitt pointedly questioned Musk’s early involvement with OpenAI, asserting that Musk supported the notion of creating a commercial entity. Musk retorted, “You can’t ask a yes-or-no question – have you stopped beating your wife?” This prompted U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers to intervene, lightening the mood in the courtroom with laughter.
Savitt probed deeper into Musk’s communication with former director Siobhan Gillis right before Musk’s resignation from OpenAI’s board in 2018. In their conversation, Gillis inquired about maintaining a “close and friendly” relationship with OpenAI for information flow. Musk, known for his straightforwardness, responded slyly about his intentions to stay informed about OpenAI’s activities.
As discussions evolved, Musk noted he did remember a dialogue about establishing an early commercial branch. Savitt showcased emails inviting guests to Musk’s parties in San Francisco, where it was alleged Musk advocated for OpenAI’s shift towards commercialization.
In earlier moments of the trial, Musk had criticized his co-founders, especially Altman, for seeking the reputational benefits of operating a charity while simultaneously managing a profitable entity. “They can’t have their cake and eat it too,” Musk stated, asserting that they aren’t entitled to the philanthropic goodwill while also amassing personal wealth.
Musk claimed he had been misled into thinking he was aiding the establishment of a nonprofit aimed at developing AI in a way that would benefit humanity. Just prior to the trial, he took to social media to criticize Altman, branding him “Fraud Altman.”
Savitt had previously characterized Musk’s pursuit in court as a hypocritical endeavor, calling it a “tale of two Elons.” He suggested Musk’s legal actions were motivated by a desire to curtail OpenAI’s influence after launching his own competing startup, xAI. “What he really cares about is Elon Musk coming out on top,” Savitt contended.
