A jury in Oakland, California, dismissed Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, ruling that his claims were filed too late and lacked sufficient evidence, according to reports from Dawn and TheStreet. Musk had accused OpenAI's leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, of abandoning the nonprofit's original mission and misusing funds after its restructuring. The jury’s decision came after less than two hours of deliberation following an 11-day trial.
Musk sought approximately $150 billion in damages and sought the removal of OpenAI executives Altman and Greg Brockman, asserting that the company prioritized profits and accepted significant investment from Microsoft, as noted by NDTV and TheStreet. OpenAI defended its shift to a for-profit model, with Altman testifying that the move was necessary for scaling safe AI development, per Zero Hedge and MIT Technology Review. Musk left OpenAI's board in 2018 amid growing tensions.
The trial examined allegations ranging from financial manipulation to mission diversion, with Musk claiming OpenAI deviated from its original goal of benefiting humanity, while OpenAI argued Musk’s lawsuit was motivated by financial interests, according to MyJoyOnline and Dawn. The verdict sided with OpenAI, rejecting Musk’s assertions and preserving the company’s current governance and funding policies.
Musk has announced his intent to appeal the dismissal, signaling further legal proceedings ahead. Observers will be watching closely to see if Musk can overcome procedural hurdles and present new evidence in appeals court, as the case raises broader questions about accountability and governance in high-stakes AI development.
OpenAI
Elon Musk
Sam Altman
Greg Brockman
MICROSOFT CORP
