In the opening day of his high-stakes legal battle against Sam Altman, Elon Musk took the stand and delivered a rambling, often petty performance that legal observers described as ill-prepared and unconvincing.
Musk, who is suing Altman and OpenAI for allegedly breaching the nonprofit's founding mission, appeared more interested in settling old scores than presenting a coherent argument. His testimony wandered from personal grievances to technical tangents, failing to directly address the core claims of the lawsuit.
Legal experts noted that Musk's demeanor—alternating between dismissive and antagonistic—may have hurt his credibility with the jury. "He seemed more focused on attacking Altman than explaining why he should win," said one courtroom analyst.
The trial, which centers on whether OpenAI's shift to a for-profit model violated its original charter, is expected to last several weeks. Musk's performance on day one raises questions about whether his legal strategy can overcome the burden of proof.