Sam Altman says Elon Musk wanted 90 percent of OpenAI in high-stakes trial | Courts News
OpenAI CEO Denies Allegations of Betrayal by Elon Musk in High-Profile Trial
By AFP, Reuters, and The Associated Press
Published: May 12, 2026
OAKLAND, Calif. — Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, rejected allegations from Elon Musk that he has strayed from the company’s initial mission during his testimony in a federal court on Tuesday. The trial, regarded as a battle among some of the leading figures in technology, marks a contentious chapter in the history of artificial intelligence.
Musk, who is noted as the wealthiest individual globally, has filed a lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, accusing them of “stealing a charity” after shifting the organization’s focus from its original nonprofit vision. He claims that Altman persuaded him to invest $38 billion with the promise of enhancing humanity, only for OpenAI to pivot to a for-profit model in 2019.
Testifying in court, Altman positioned Musk as a competitor fixated on maintaining control over OpenAI. “It does not fit with my conception of the words ‘stealing a charity’ to look at what has actually happened here,” Altman stated.
The relationship between Musk and Altman has been fraught, often influenced by their divergent perspectives on artificial intelligence. Musk, who now operates his own AI chatbot called Grok, is currently seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and its principal investor, Microsoft.
Altman’s testimony commenced two weeks into the trial, where he reiterated that Musk was aware of the plans to transition OpenAI into a for-profit business at the time of his investment and even sought a majority stake in the company. “An early number that Mr. Musk threw out was that he should have 90 percent of the equity to start,” Altman said, adding that Musk’s demand eventually softened, but he always sought a majority.
The trial’s outcome could significantly impact OpenAI’s leadership and direction, including its flagship products like ChatGPT. Musk’s lawsuit aims for the removal of both Altman and Brockman.
As OpenAI approaches a prospective initial public offering that could value it at $1 trillion, the stakes are high. Earlier testimony revealed Musk’s characterization of Altman as untrustworthy regarding technological developments. Musk asserted, “If you have someone who is not trustworthy in charge of AI, I think that’s a very big danger for the whole world.”
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Musk’s attorney, Steven Molo, attempted to question Altman’s credibility, asking, “Have you misled people when you do business?” Altman responded, “I do not think so.”
In contrast, Altman described Musk’s leadership style as detrimental to research efforts. “I don’t think Mr. Musk understood how to run a good research lab,” he said, noting that Musk had demotivated key researchers before stepping down from OpenAI’s board in 2018.
Public perception of AI remains cautious. A March 2026 Pew Research Center poll indicates that a majority of Americans believe AI will negatively impact creativity and problem-solving abilities, with only 10 percent expressing greater enthusiasm than concern regarding AI’s integration into daily life.
As the midterm elections approach, discussions surrounding AI regulation have gained momentum, with the Trump administration advocating for a “national policy framework” to address the emerging technology consistently across states. The AI industry is experiencing substantial investment growth, with the United Nations projecting a global market value of $4.8 trillion by 2033.
