Elon Musk testifies on opening day of OpenAI trial accusing Sam Altman of “stealing a charity”

Elon Musk took the witness stand on the first day of testimony in his federal trial against OpenAI and Sam Altman, telling an Oakland jury that Altman pulled the AI lab away from its nonprofit roots and that “it is not OK to steal a charity.” OpenAI's lead counsel William Savitt countered in opening statements that Musk filed the suit out of “sour grapes” because he “didn't get his way at OpenAI” and only began paying attention after ChatGPT became a hit in 2022, while Musk's lead counsel Steven Molo compared OpenAI to “a museum store” that “can't loot the muse, steal all the Picassos and use them to turn a profit.” Musk is seeking $150B in damages and an order that OpenAI, now valued at about $730B, unwind its for-profit plans, with the monthlong trial expected to feature testimony from tech moguls, former OpenAI board members, and employees.