Elon Musk to testify in a case that could change the path of AI
Elon Musk to testify in a case that could change the path of AI
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/28/tech/elon-musk-sam-altman-openai
Publish Date: 2026-04-28 07:00:00
Source Domain: www.cnn.com
Elon Musk spent part of Monday posting on his social media platform X about his lawsuit against OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman, and Musk’s claims in the suit that the ChatGPT maker deceived him and betrayed its original mission.
“Scam Altman and Greg Stockman stole a charity. Full stop,” read one of Musk’s missives.
But it’s not the people on X that Musk and his legal team have to attempt to convince this week – it’s the nine jurors chosen on Monday to hear Musk’s suit against his AI rival. As soon as Tuesday, Musk could take the stand in an effort to do just that, arguing OpenAI betrayed him and its original nonprofit mission when it created a for-profit subsidiary.
Their verdict will advise Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers as she decides whether Musk gets his wish: reversion of OpenAI to a nonprofit structure, the removal of Altman and Brockman from OpenAI’s board, and around $130 billion in damages to go back into OpenAI’s nonprofit foundation.
Beyond the remedies Musk is demanding, the trial threatens to derail one of the world’s largest AI companies – and one of Musk’s biggest artificial intelligence rivals – as it makes plans to go public as early as this year. OpenAI has consistently pushed back against Musk’s claims and says his suit is one based on jealousy and regret.
The battle between two of the biggest AI pioneers, Musk and Altman, could shape the future of the emerging, but already wildly influential, technology. OpenAI’s IPO is expected to be a blockbuster, and the money it raises could help it dominate an industry in which it had an early lead. On the other hand, if Musk wins, his own xAI company could set back a major rival and potentially leap ahead.
Musk could face high hurdles in his quest. Musk’s lawyers on…
