A federal jury in Oakland heard closing arguments in Elon Musk’s lawsuit accusing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman of abandoning the AI lab’s nonprofit mission for commercial gain. Musk, who invested $38 million in OpenAI’s early years, is seeking governance changes, Altman’s removal, and billions in disgorgement to fund OpenAI’s charitable arm—relief that could upend the company’s anticipated IPO.
A threshold issue is whether Musk sued within the statute of limitations; the judge signaled she could direct a verdict for the defense if jurors find the claims are time-barred before August 2021. Musk’s attorney cast Altman as unreliable, citing testimony from former insiders, while OpenAI’s counsel said Musk backed the for‑profit structure and sought long‑term control over AGI. Microsoft, a major OpenAI backer, faces claims it aided any breach. The outcome could reconfigure power dynamics across a rapidly consolidating AI sector that includes Musk’s xAI and rival Anthropic, both eyeing public offerings amid mounting regulatory and market scrutiny.
Related articles:
— Artificial general intelligence
— OpenAI
— Sam Altman
— Elon Musk
