Everything you need to know from the first 2 weeks of the Musk v. OpenAI trial
The Elon Musk versus OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) trial wrapped up its second week on Thursday, with proceedings set to pick up again on Monday. Musk’s lawsuit against one of the world’s most valuable private companies has provided a number of details about the inner workings of OpenAI and the relationships between Musk, his fellow co-founders, CEO Sam Altman, and president Greg Brockman, former chief technology officer Mira Murati, and former board member, and mother of four of Musk’s children, Shivon Zilis. Musk contends that Altman and Brockman duped him into donating millions of dollars to get the company off the ground with the understanding that it would remain a nonprofit, only to flip it to a for-profit later. OpenAI, however, says Musk is angry that the company rejected his offer to merge it with Tesla (TSLA) and name him CEO of the new entity. Musk is seeking damages and a reversal of OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit. Greg Brockman, president of OpenAI, arrives at a federal courthouse as the trial in Elon Musk's lawsuit over OpenAI's for-profit conversion continues, in Oakland, California, U.S., May 6, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo · REUTERS / REUTERS Earlier this week, OpenAI filed court documents claiming that Musk tried to gauge Brockman’s interest in a settlement before the start of the trial. When Brockman suggested both sides drop their claims against each other, Musk allegedly told Brockman he would turn him and Altman into “the most hated men in America.” The case will decide the future of OpenAI and whether it will continue to operate as a for-profit entity or revert to a nonprofit structure. During his testimony this week, Brockman claimed Musk wanted to become CEO of OpenAI because he needed $80 billion to build a city on Mars. Shivon Zilis arrives at a federal courthouse to attend the trial in Elon Musk's lawsuit over OpenAI's for-profit conversion, in Oakland, California, U.S., May 5, 2026. REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo · REUTERS / REUTERS Brockman also disclosed that he holds a roughly $30 billion stake in the AI company, as well as holdings in other Altman-backed companies. According to Brockman, Zilis revealed that she became pregnant via in vitro fertilization in 2021 but didn’t tell him that Musk was the sperm donor. Brockman said he found out later when the media reported on the matter. Business Insider initially reported on Zilis and Musk’s connection in 2022. Zilis, meanwhile, testified that Musk had suggested converting the company into a for-profit, but that it was one of several ideas discussed at the time. She also rejected the claim that she served as a “funnel” for information about OpenAI’s activities to Musk. Zilis departed OpenAI’s board when Musk launched his own competing AI company, xAI, in 2023. In addition to Brockman and Zilis, the court also heard recorded testimony from Murati, who was named CEO after OpenAI’s board ousted Altman in Nov. 2023. Her testimony included claims that Altman created chaos and lied to executives. But Murati also said she wanted to keep Altman on as OpenAI’s CEO out of fear that the company would collapse without him.
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