Elon Musk took the stand Tuesday in a San Francisco courtroom to recount his version of events surrounding the founding of OpenAI. This marked the first time he gave sworn testimony about his relationship with the AI research lab he helped establish in 2015. Musk’s account differs from the narrative presented by OpenAI’s legal team, which claims he abandoned the project early on.
The testimony came during a breach-of-contract trial where OpenAI accuses Musk of violating agreements tied to his early financial and strategic support. Court documents show Musk contributed over $44 million before his departure in 2018. His lawyers argue these contributions were donations, not investments, and thus not subject to the same obligations as formal equity stakes.
Under cross-examination, Musk reiterated claims he made in Walter Isaacson’s 2023 biography. He stated he left OpenAI because he believed the company had strayed from its original mission of open access to AI technology. These statements were previously shared in interviews but never before presented in a legal proceeding.
The trial centers on whether Musk’s 2018 exit breached agreements that required him to continue funding OpenAI at agreed levels. His testimony provides a rare public airing of internal disputes over the organization’s direction and governance. A ruling is expected within weeks.
Source: techcrunch.com