Microsoft boss to testify on his role in OpenAI’s founding
Microsoft boss to testify on his role in OpenAI’s founding
Publish Date: 2026-05-11 00:51:00
Source Domain: www.digitaljournal.com
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to testify at a landmark trial that has laid bare the internal strife in Silicon Valley over OpenAI and the future of artificial intelligence – Copyright AFP Peter Zay
Benjamin LEGENDRE
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to take the stand Monday in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, to explain emails that revealed how his company funded the ChatGPT creator’s shift from philanthropic organization to for-profit AI giant.
Nadella’s testimony will precede that of OpenAI boss Sam Altman, whose questioning — likely on Tuesday or Wednesday — will be one of the final stages in a closely watched trial before a federal jury in Oakland, California.
The trial has laid bare the internal strife within a circle of elite Silicon Valley engineers, investors and executives in the years leading up to the high-profile launch of the ChatGPT chatbot in 2022.
In his lawsuit, Musk accuses OpenAI of betraying its original nonprofit mission and misappropriating his founding donations totalling $38 million to build an empire valued at over $850 billion.
The Tesla and SpaceX founder is calling for OpenAI to revert to its original status as a nonprofit — a move that would impact its position in the global artificial intelligence race against Anthropic, Google and China’s Deepseek.
OpenAI counters that Musk left voluntarily after failing to seize majority control and has since become the company’s direct competitor through his own AI venture, xAI.
An “advisory” jury is expected to reach a verdict on any actual wrongdoing by the week of May 18.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will then make the final ruling on both liability and remedies after hearing the jury’s opinion. She has indicated she will likely follow their advice.
If Gonzalez Rogers ultimately sides with Musk, OpenAI’s initial public offering could be jeopardized.
– Attracting investment –
On Monday, Musk’s lawyers are expected to try to convince the jury…
