Elon Musk is taking on OpenAI in court today—here’s what’s at stake

Today, one of the biggest tech showdowns of the year begins. It’s the day on which the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, and the world’s most influential AI leader, Sam Altman, are expected to appear in court to issue their opening statements in the OpenAI trial. Here’s what you need to know about the high-stakes case.

What is the OpenAI trial about?

The trial centers around the very public dispute between Elon Musk and Sam Altman. Musk is suing Altman and OpenAI for allegedly deviating from their commitment to keep the company a nonprofit institution, as it was when Musk first invested millions of dollars in the then-upstart between 2015 and 2017. 

In 2018, Musk left the board of OpenAI. As Reuters reports, a year later, the company created a for-profit entity. Musk has alleged that this move went against the founding principles of the company that he invested in.

The Tesla CEO says that instead, Altman and others sought to turn OpenAI into a “wealth machine” to enrich themselves.

When does the trial start?

The trial officially started yesterday, when jurors were selected. But today is the day many consider the trial to really begin in earnest. That’s when both Elon Musk and Sam Altman are expected to make opening statements in the case.

The trial is being held in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Oakland.

What is Elon Musk seeking?

Musk primarily wants three things.

First, he wants OpenAI to revert back into a nonprofit company. 

Second, he wants Altman and Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s CEO and president, respectively, removed from their positions.

Third, Musk wants $150 billion in damages from both OpenAI and investor Microsoft, with this money going towards the charitable arms of OpenAI.

How have Sam Altman and OpenAI responded?

OpenAI and Altman have long publicly refuted Musk’s claims, alleging that Musk is motivated by jealousy. The company has claimed Musk had discussed converting OpenAI into a for-profit company and wanted to be its CEO, notes Reuters.

Only after he failed to be appointed CEO, OpenAI has alleged, did Musk take issue with the company’s for-profit shift.

In a post on Musk’s social media network, X, yesterday, OpenAI stated that it “can’t wait to make our case in court where both the truth and the law are on our side” and called the lawsuit “a baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor.”

What to watch for next?

The biggest news out of the case today will be Elon Musk’s and Sam Altman’s opening statements.

After that, both men are expected to take the stand for questioning during the trial. Additionally, other executives from both OpenAI and Microsoft are also expected to take the stand.

When will a verdict in the case be given?

That remains to be seen and largely depends on how long the jury takes to deliberate once all the evidence has been given.

However, the U.S. District Judge presiding over the case, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, has stated that she wants jurors to begin deliberations by May 12.