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Sam Altman Says Elon Musk Destabilized OpenAI With ‘Mind Games’ As Trial Nears Close

Microsoft’s role as a co-defendant raises the stakes for the AI industry.

Overview

  • Altman, who testified Tuesday in a federal court in Oakland, defended OpenAI’s for‑profit structure and said Musk’s push for control and forced rankings of researchers damaged the lab’s culture.
  • He recounted an early exchange in which Musk said he might pass control of OpenAI to his children if he died, a stance Altman called chilling.
  • Musk’s lawsuit seeks to force OpenAI back to nonprofit status, remove Altman and Greg Brockman from leadership, and recover more than $130 billion for the nonprofit arm.
  • Former insiders challenged Altman’s credibility, with ex‑CTO Mira Murati saying he created chaos and with board turmoil in 2023 cited as evidence of trust concerns.
  • Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday, and a ruling for Musk could derail OpenAI’s planned IPO.