Elon Musk testified Tuesday that his Elon Musk OpenAI trial lawsuit defends charitable giving, as proceedings began over the future of the ChatGPT maker.
Musk is suing OpenAI, its Chief Executive Officer, Sam Altman and its President, Greg Brockman, alleging they abandoned OpenAI’s original nonprofit mission.
“If we make it OK to loot a charity, the entire foundation of charitable giving in America will be destroyed,” Musk told jurors. Musk said he came up with the idea and name for OpenAI, recruited key people and provided initial funding.
OpenAI and Altman’s lawyer, William Savitt, told jurors that Musk pushed OpenAI toward a for-profit model and sued after failing to gain control. Savitt said OpenAI’s 2019 for-profit structure helped the company buy computing power and retain scientists while competing with Google DeepMind.
Musk’s lawyer, Steven Molo, argued that OpenAI’s founders did not create the organisation “as a vehicle for people to get rich.”
Musk seeks USD 150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, with proceeds going to OpenAI’s charitable arm. He also wants OpenAI to return to nonprofit status and remove Altman and Brockman as officers.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers admonished Musk over posts on X attacking Altman and urged him to limit social media commentary during the trial.
Read: Elon Musk OpenAI Trial Starts With Altman Attack
Musk will likely resume testimony on Wednesday, while Altman and Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella will also likely testify.
