Oakland, California — In a major courtroom showdown that could shape the future of one of the world’s most influential artificial intelligence companies, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman took the witness stand Tuesday to defend himself against a high‑stakes lawsuit brought by tech billionaire Elon Musk. The legal battle centers on allegations that OpenAI and its leadership betrayed the company’s original nonprofit mission when it transitioned towards a for‑profit structure.
Musk, who co‑founded OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018, argues that Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman misled him into investing tens of millions of dollars under the premise of a charitable mission. He claims the pivot to a commercial entity represented a breach of trust and is seeking more than $130 billion in damages, along with a ruling to restore OpenAI’s nonprofit status.
During cross‑examination, Musk’s attorney grilled Altman, asking pointed questions about his credibility and integrity — including the blunt query, “Are you completely trustworthy?” — after testimony from former board members and executives that cast doubt on his leadership. Altman responded by insisting he is an honest and trustworthy businessperson and denied the accusations that he intentionally misled his co‑founders or investors.
A key point of contention in the trial is the nature of OpenAI’s evolution from a nonprofit research lab to a multimillion‑dollar commercial venture. Musk’s legal team contends this shift contradicts the founding principles of the organization, while Altman and his defense argue that raising significant capital through commercial operations was necessary to compete in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence.
Altman also recounted internal disputes with Musk over control of the company, including testimony that Musk once proposed retaining majority equity and even suggested that control could pass to his children — remarks that Altman said made him uncomfortable and conflicted with the broader vision for the organization’s governance.
The trial has already featured testimony from various tech leaders and former OpenAI insiders, and closing arguments are underway as jurors prepare to deliberate. A decision in the case could have far‑reaching implications not only for OpenAI’s leadership but also for its planned public offering and strategic direction in the global AI landscape.
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May 16, 2026
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