Musk v. Altman: Elon Musk says he was a "fool" for backing OpenAI

Elon Musk took the witness stand for a second day in his high-profile trial against OpenAI, delivering explosive testimony where he called himself a "fool" for backing the artificial intelligence company.

The billionaire accused OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman of manipulating him into donating tens of millions of dollars to what he believed was a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing safe AI for humanity's benefit.

Key Allegations

Musk's testimony centered on claims that:

• Sam Altman wasn't honest about OpenAI's nonprofit mission
• He was deceived about the company's true intentions
• The co-founders "stole a charity" by converting it to a for-profit entity
• OpenAI betrayed its founding principles after striking a deal with Microsoft

Courtroom Drama

The cross-examination became heated as OpenAI's lawyers pressed Musk on timing questions and challenged his recollection of events. Musk stated "I literally was a fool" when clarifying his testimony about his initial support for the company.

The trial represents a significant legal battle over the future direction of one of the world's most prominent AI companies, with implications for how AI development should be governed and funded.

Background

Musk was one of OpenAI's original co-founders and early major donors when the company was established as a nonprofit in 2015. He later departed the board and has been increasingly critical of the company's transformation into a for-profit entity and its partnership with Microsoft.

The case continues to draw widespread attention from the tech industry and legal observers as it could set important precedents for AI governance and corporate structure transitions.