In the concluding week of the Musk v. Altman trial, both sides aggressively challenged each other’s credibility, with claims and counterclaims about leadership ethics, conflicting interests, and the fate of OpenAI’s structure hanging in the balance.
- Musk argues Altman broke nonprofit promises, seeks $134B damages
- Altman accused of lying and conflicts of interest amid counterclaims
- Jury verdict expected soon, with major implications for OpenAI and xAI
What happened
In the third and final week of the trial, attorneys for Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman traded intense accusations questioning each other’s credibility. Altman was interrogated regarding allegations of dishonesty and self-dealing involving his personal investments in companies connected to OpenAI. Meanwhile, Altman portrayed Musk as driven by a desire for control over artificial general intelligence (AGI) rather than a genuine commitment to AI safety.
Both sides presented their closing arguments with dramatic visuals including mugshot-like images of the figures involved. Musk’s legal team claimed Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman violated a pledge to keep OpenAI as a nonprofit entity dedicated to benefiting humanity, instead creating a lucrative for-profit arm benefiting themselves. OpenAI’s defense rejected the notion of any broken promise and suggested Musk’s real motive was to undermine a competitor, his own company xAI.
Why it matters
The case probes the governance and ethical foundations of one of the world’s most influential AI organizations. Elon Musk is attempting to unwind OpenAI’s restructuring that turned its for-profit subsidiary into a public benefit corporation in 2025 and remove its leadership team. This lawsuit could disrupt OpenAI’s planned IPO, which is estimated to value the company near $1 trillion.
At stake is not only corporate control and billions in damages—Musk is seeking as much as $134 billion—but also the future trajectory of AI development and safety. Meanwhile, Musk’s own AI venture xAI is reportedly preparing for a massive public offering tied to SpaceX, challenging the industry status quo. The jury’s advisory verdict will influence the court’s final ruling with major consequences for the AI ecosystem.
What to watch next
The jury will begin deliberations imminently, with a nonbinding verdict expected within days. The judge will then decide whether Musk’s request to undo OpenAI’s structural changes and oust its leadership will move forward. A ruling in Musk’s favor could stall or even reverse OpenAI’s push toward a public offering and potentially reshape leadership and priorities in AI innovation.
Simultaneously, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying around conflicts of interest involving Altman, adding another layer of complexity to the aftermath. Observers will also watch how Musk’s xAI advance proceeds, particularly given the high valuation targeted for its SpaceX-linked public debut. This trial has underscored the fierce power struggles and ethical dilemmas at the heart of the fast-evolving AI landscape.