Elon Musk vs OpenAI: Jury To Decide Fate Of High-Stakes Trial With Sam Altman

The

high-stakes legal dispute between Elon Musk and OpenAI is coming to an end. A federal court in Oakland, California on Thursday heard closing arguments from both the parties, as per Reuters. The trial revolves around Musk accusing OpenAI and its top leadership of drifting apart from its original mission and moving toward the profit-driven organisation.

Musk’s Allegations Against OpenAI

The Tesla CEO argues that OpenAI initially promised to develop artificial intelligence for the greater good of humanity, but later moved toward a profit-led organisation that benefits its leadership and investors. His legal team claims that he was misled and contributed nearly $38 billion which is based on the original mission. They suggest that OpenAI further built deep financial ties with Microsoft, which invested billions of dollars to support the company’s growth. Moreover, the tech mogul is reportedly seeking nearly $150 billion in damages, which he mentioned should go to OpenAI’s non-profit wing. He is also seeking leadership changes that include removal of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman. During the closing argument, Musk’s lawyer Steven Molo stated to the jury that several witnesses, including former OpenAI executives, questioned the intentions and honesty of Altman, according to Reuters. Molo said “Sam Altman’s credibility is directly at issue in this case. If you don’t believe him, they cannot win.” Notably, he accused the firm of prioritising profit over safety and criticised the way the leadership handed equity stakes and investor relationships.

OpenAI’s Defense: Claims of Delay and Misrepresentation

OpenAI has rejected the claims of Musk. The legal team of the company argued that Musk waited too long to file the case and he already knew about the company’s direction years ago. Lawyers Sarah Eddy mentioned Musk himself understood that OpenAI required outside funding to grow and survive. She suggested that by 2017, even Musk knew the nonprofit model alone would not be enough to support advanced AI development. She said, “Mr. Musk wanted to turn OpenAI into a for-profit company that he could control. But the other founders refused to turn the keys of AGI over to one person.”Moreover, OpenAI’s lawyer William Savitt reportedly criticised Musk’s case, stating, “Mr. Musk may have the Midas touch in some areas, but not in AI. To succeed in AI, as it turns out, all Mr. Musk can do is come to court.” OpenAI’s team also highlighted how Musk showed ‘selective amnesia’ about major events and ignored documents that showcased he was aware of funding discussions.

Jury Decision Ahead

The nine-member jury is expected to begin deliberations soon. US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, along with lawyers from both sides, will return to court to discuss possible outcomes.