Altman tells court Musk sought control of OpenAI before departure

Wednesday 13 May 2026 - 07:39

By: Dakir Madiha

Altman tells court Musk sought control of OpenAI before departure

Sam Altman testified Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, rejecting accusations from Elon Musk that he abandoned OpenAI’s original nonprofit mission. Altman told jurors that Musk himself pushed for long term control over the artificial intelligence company and supported turning the organization into a commercial operation before leaving OpenAI in 2018.

During testimony in the third week of the closely watched trial, Altman said Musk advocated for a structure that would have given him lasting authority over the company’s future direction. According to Altman, Musk also proposed merging OpenAI with Tesla as part of discussions about the organization’s development. Altman argued that Musk’s current claims contradict his earlier position regarding corporate control and commercialization inside the AI sector.

The legal battle centers on Musk’s allegations that OpenAI, Altman and Microsoft violated the founding principles of the company by transforming it into a profit driven enterprise. Musk claims OpenAI abandoned its original charitable mission after receiving major investments from Microsoft. Altman’s testimony aimed to demonstrate that commercial expansion had always been understood as part of OpenAI’s long term strategy and that Musk was fully aware of those ambitions during his involvement with the organization.

Altman appeared in court one day after testimony from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI board chairman Bret Taylor. Nadella testified that Musk never expressed concerns to him regarding Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI and described the collaboration as commercial from the beginning. He also defended Microsoft’s role during the November 2023 leadership crisis in which Altman was briefly removed before returning as chief executive days later.

Taylor focused his testimony on governance and the role of OpenAI’s board of directors. Earlier reports indicated that Taylor played a key role in rejecting a $97.4 billion acquisition proposal submitted by Musk and investors tied to his AI company xAI in February 2025. OpenAI leadership reportedly viewed the proposal as an attempt to weaken a direct competitor in the rapidly expanding AI industry.

The case is being overseen by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and began on April 27 with jury selection and opening arguments. Musk is seeking more than $150 billion in damages from OpenAI, Altman and Microsoft. He also wants Altman removed from OpenAI’s board and demands the cancellation of the company’s transition toward a for profit structure.

Most of Musk’s original legal claims have already been dismissed. Only two allegations remain active in court, including unjust enrichment and breach of charitable trust obligations. The jury’s decision will serve in an advisory capacity, while the final ruling will rest with the judge. Closing arguments are expected later this week, with jury deliberations likely to follow shortly afterward. A ruling against OpenAI could complicate the company’s plans for a future public offering later this year.