OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has rejected claims from fellow tech mogul Elon Musk that he betrayed the artificial intelligence company's original vision, as testimony began Tuesday in a contentious trial in Oakland, California.
Musk, the world's wealthiest person, has sued Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman, alleging they "stole a charity" by shifting its purpose. He claims OpenAI leaders persuaded him to invest $38 billion based on a goal of improving humanity, only to see the company pivot to a for-profit venture in 2019.
On the witness stand, Altman instead framed Musk as a competitor obsessed with exercising control over OpenAI. "It does not fit with my conception of the words 'stealing a charity' to look at what has actually happened here," Altman told the court.
The two men have long had an acrimonious relationship, driven in part by differing views about AI. Musk, a self-described free speech "absolutist," currently runs his own AI chatbot, Grok, which has been accused of perpetuating right-wing conspiracy theories and offensive materials. He is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, one of its principal investors.
Altman argued that Musk knew of the plans to develop OpenAI into a for-profit enterprise when he invested, and asserted that Musk even petitioned to have a majority stake. "An early number that Mr Musk threw out was that he should have 90 percent of the equity to start," Altman told the jury. "It then softened, but it always was a majority."
The outcome of the trial could determine the future of OpenAI, its leadership, and products like ChatGPT. As part of his lawsuit, Musk is pushing for the removal of Altman and Brockman. The trial comes as OpenAI prepares for a potential initial public offering that could see it valued at $1 trillion.
During earlier testimony, Musk portrayed Altman as a liar who could not be trusted with AI development. "If you have someone who is not trustworthy in charge of AI, I think that's a very big danger for the whole world," Musk said. Altman, meanwhile, sought to cast doubt on Musk's leadership, stating, "I don't think Mr Musk understood how to run a good research lab. He had demotivated some of our most key researchers."
The US public has been largely unconvinced by high-minded rhetoric about AI's transformative potential. A March 2026 poll by the Pew Research Center suggested that a majority of respondents believe AI will worsen, rather than improve, the ability to think creatively, form meaningful relationships, make difficult decisions, and solve problems. Just 10 percent said they were more excited than concerned about increased AI use.
The AI industry has quickly translated its substantial economic power into political influence as lawmakers consider regulation. The sector has become a driver of massive investment, with the United Nations estimating the global market could be worth $4.8 trillion by 2033.
Source: www.aljazeera.com