Elon Musk Testifies in OpenAI Trial
In a high-profile trial regarding the future of OpenAI, Elon Musk testified on Tuesday, alleging that CEO Sam Altman misappropriated a group initially established as a “charitable organization” and turned it into a massive profit-making enterprise.
Musk, dressed in a black suit and tie, asserted, “They’re trying to make this case look complicated, but it’s actually very simple,” during his testimony in a bustling federal courtroom in Oakland, California.
He expressed, “It’s not okay to steal from charity. That’s my opinion. This case could set a legal precedent that jeopardizes all charitable organizations in America.” He emphasized that this threatens the very foundation of charitable giving nationwide.
However, OpenAI’s legal team objected, clarifying that Musk is not a licensed attorney. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers reminded the jury that Musk’s statements were merely personal views and hold no legal standing.
Musk was the first to take the stand in a significant case where he accused Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman of straying from the organization’s original mission of safely advancing artificial intelligence for humanity’s benefit.
Prior to Musk’s testimony, defense attorney William Savitt and co-founders Altman and Brockman criticized Musk’s legal endeavors, labeling them a self-serving “tale of two Elons.” Savitt portrayed Musk’s lawsuit as an opportunistic move that surfaced after Musk launched his rival AI company, xAI.
According to Savitt, Musk’s motivations are driven by a desire to undermine OpenAI, particularly following its rise to fame at the end of 2022. “He didn’t voice these concerns until he realized OpenAI could be quite profitable,” Savitt argued. “Musk’s focus is solely on maintaining his own status.” He added that Musk launched xAI before filing the lawsuit.
Musk raised concerns in court about large tech firms controlling AI, specifically mentioning Google as a competitor. “We needed to build this company to compete with Google,” he said, noting that Google seemed indifferent to the safety aspects of its AI.
Reflecting on a visit to Google co-founder Larry Page’s home, Musk recounted being called a “speciesist” for valuing humans over robots. He pointedly asked the jury, “I care more about humans than I care about AI. Larry, which side are you on?”
Seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, Musk stated he would donate any legal winnings to OpenAI’s charitable side. He also urged the court to reinstate OpenAI’s nonprofit status and remove Altman and Brockman from leadership positions.
During his testimony, Musk highlighted early discussions at OpenAI about potentially forming a minor for-profit entity for fundraising. He commented, “Commercial motivations are fine as long as it doesn’t wag the dog’s tail,” asserting they initially aimed to avoid profit-driven motives.
Musk’s legal team cited an email indicating that he and Brockman had agreed in 2015 to establish OpenAI as a nonprofit, with Altman promoting that direction. Less than a month later, the formation of OpenAI as a nonprofit was officially announced.
