Elon Musk is set to return to the witness stand Wednesday in a high-stakes trial over a lawsuit he brought against OpenAI. Musk alleges the company abandoned its mission to be an AI steward for humanity in pursuit of profits.
On Tuesday, Musk sharply criticized the 2019 decision by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman to create a for-profit entity. "If we make it okay to loot a charity, the entire foundation of charitable giving in America will be destroyed," Musk testified.
OpenAI argues it created the for-profit arm to secure computing power and pay top scientists. Lawyers for the company claim Musk wants to control OpenAI and boost his own AI company, xAI.
The trial underscores the deep rift between Musk and Altman, former partners in developing AI technology. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, left OpenAI in 2018.
On Wednesday, Musk will be questioned by his own lawyer before being cross-examined by defendants' lawyers. OpenAI and Microsoft, which invested $10 billion in OpenAI, face Musk's claims of breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.
Before testimony began, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers admonished Musk over critical posts on X about Altman. Both agreed to minimize social media activity.
Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages. He also wants OpenAI to revert to a nonprofit structure and remove Altman and Brockman as officers.