OpenAI President Greg Brockman spent a second day on the stand in the trial brought by Elon Musk, forced to read aloud from his personal journal. The entries, spanning 2015 to 2023, are central to Musk's claim that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission to enrich executives like Brockman and Sam Altman.
Brockman described the experience as "very painful," saying the journal was never meant to be public. He explained the entries are a stream of consciousness, sometimes reflecting others' viewpoints, which can make them appear contradictory out of context.
Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, highlighted passages where Brockman wrote about potentially "stealing" the nonprofit from Musk and hoping to earn $1 billion. Brockman's stake in OpenAI is now worth approximately $30 billion. Molo likened Brockman to a "bank robber" downplaying the theft.
OpenAI's lawyer Sarah Eddy guided Brockman through the same entries, allowing him to provide context. Brockman testified that his concerns were primarily about protecting OpenAI's mission, not personal gain. He said his comments about stealing the nonprofit only applied if Musk had been removed from the board, which never happened; Musk resigned in 2018.
Brockman also testified that Musk did not understand AI, describing his departure speech as damaging to morale. He called Musk a leader who cared little about the team's commitment to AI safety.