Musk Takes the Stand as OpenAI Trial Begins in Oakland

Overview

• Elon Musk took the stand Tuesday in Oakland, telling jurors that OpenAI’s 2019 pivot to a for‑profit structure “robbed a charity.”
• Musk seeks roughly $150 billion for OpenAI’s nonprofit arm and court orders to remove Sam Altman and Greg Brockman and to restore a pure nonprofit.
• OpenAI counters that Musk supported creating a for‑profit arm and is now suing to gain control to boost his rival AI lab xAI.
• Before opening statements Tuesday, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told Musk and Altman to curb social‑media attacks during the trial.
• A nine‑person jury is seated, with liability deliberations targeted for May 12, and expected witnesses include Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.