Elon Musk took the stand for a second day in his legal battle against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, delivering combative testimony and accusing the company's lawyer of deliberately trying to confuse him. "Your questions are not simple," Musk told attorney William Savitt. "They're designed to trick me essentially."
Musk is suing OpenAI, Altman, and co-founder Greg Brockman, alleging they abandoned the organization's original non-profit mission to pursue a for-profit model. OpenAI counters that Musk is motivated by jealousy and a desire to hobble a competitor, especially after he launched his own AI startup, xAI, in 2023.
During the hearing in Oakland, California, Musk acknowledged that he initially intended to retain control over OpenAI but expected that control to diminish as more investors joined. He emphasized that he chose to establish OpenAI as a non-profit for public benefit, despite having experience with for-profit ventures. "I deliberately chose to create this as a non-profit for the public good," he stated.
OpenAI's lawyer attempted to undermine Musk's argument by pointing out that he later founded xAI as a for-profit company, suggesting his concerns about artificial general intelligence were not genuine. Musk is seeking billions in damages, which he wants directed to OpenAI's non-profit arm, and is calling for Altman's removal.
The trial, which could have significant implications for the AI industry, is expected to last several weeks. Altman is also scheduled to testify.