Elon Musk Takes the Stand at OpenAI Trial

The co-founder accuses OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of defrauding him and betraying the company’s founding mission: to operate as an open-source nonprofit.
Elon Musk Takes the Stand at OpenAI Trial
Elon Musk arrives at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, Calif., on April 28, 2026. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo
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OAKLAND, Calif.—Tesla CEO Elon Musk took the stand on April 28 as the first witness in a federal civil jury trial in Oakland, California, accusing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of defrauding him and betraying the company’s founding mission: to operate as an open-source nonprofit dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.

The lawsuit stems from a bitter feud between the two tech titans over the organization that they co-founded in 2015, which has since become one of the world’s most valuable and powerful players in the global artificial intelligence (AI) race.
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Beige Luciano-Adams
Beige Luciano-Adams
Author
Beige Luciano-Adams is an investigative reporter covering Los Angeles and statewide issues in California. She has covered politics, arts, culture, and social issues for a variety of outlets, including LA Weekly and MediaNews Group publications. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X: https://twitter.com/LucianoBeige
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