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Ex-CTO Challenges Altman’s Candor as Zilis Details Tesla Pitch in Musk–OpenAI Trial

The testimony sharpens the jury’s focus on whether OpenAI strayed from its nonprofit mission.

Overview

  • Former CTO Mira Murati, who testified Wednesday by video, said Sam Altman was not always truthful, undermined her role, and fostered rivalry among senior leaders.
  • Shivon Zilis, who took the stand Wednesday, denied funneling information to Elon Musk and described his 2017–2018 push to fold OpenAI into Tesla, including an offer of a Tesla board seat to Altman.
  • Other witnesses said OpenAI backtracked on safety, with ex-researcher Rosie Campbell describing the elimination of long-term safety teams and ex-board member Tasha McCauley citing a model launch that skipped internal safety review.
  • Murati also said Microsoft received a 6–12 month head start to commercially use OpenAI’s technology and that it stayed publicly supportive during the 2023 leadership crisis known as the “blip.”
  • The advisory jury is weighing breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment, and the judge could later order leadership changes or a shift back toward a nonprofit structure if liability is found.