Elon Musk testified at a high-profile trial concerning the future of OpenAI, framing his lawsuit against the ChatGPT maker as a defense of charitable principles. He described OpenAI as his original idea, saying he helped name the organization, recruited key personnel, contributed initial funding, and shaped its early mission as a nonprofit dedicated to benefiting humanity.
Musk, who also founded Tesla and SpaceX, accused OpenAI’s leadership, including CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, of abandoning that mission in favor of profit. He argued that transforming the organization into a commercial entity betrayed both him and the public, warning that allowing such actions could undermine charitable giving in the United States.
He stated that OpenAI was meant to remain a nonprofit serving the public good, not an organization benefiting individuals financially. Musk further claimed he provided significant early funding and resources to support its development.
OpenAI’s legal team, however, argued that Musk himself had once supported turning the venture into a for-profit model and later pursued his own AI company, xAI, after failing to gain control of OpenAI. They maintained that the organization’s restructuring was necessary to compete in the rapidly evolving AI industry and attract investment.
The case, which includes Musk seeking substantial damages and structural changes to OpenAI, continues to highlight deep disputes over the company’s founding vision and direction.
