Overview
- The trial, which began Tuesday with opening statements and Elon Musk’s testimony, follows Monday’s selection of a nine‑member advisory jury under U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
- Musk alleges OpenAI abandoned its 2015 nonprofit mandate by adopting a capped‑profit structure and deep ties with Microsoft, and he seeks Altman’s removal, an unwinding of the restructuring, and very large damages he says would go to the nonprofit arm.
- OpenAI and Microsoft reject the claims and argue Musk wanted control and now competes through xAI, while noting a nonprofit board still oversees the for‑profit unit.
- Judge Gonzalez Rogers told the parties to curb social‑media commentary after Musk mocked Sam Altman on X, and key witnesses expected to follow include Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
- The outcome could weigh on OpenAI’s planned stock listing and test Musk’s rare 'ultra vires' argument that the organization exceeded its charter, with a roughly three‑week trial and a jury offering guidance to the judge.