OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified on Tuesday in the trial against Elon Musk, defending his leadership and character. The trial, now in its third week, could determine OpenAI's corporate structure after the company raised billions for its AI model, ChatGPT.
Musk's lawsuit alleges Altman persuaded him to donate $38 million to OpenAI when it was a nonprofit, only for the company to shift to a for-profit model in 2018. Under questioning, Altman stated, "I believe I am an honest and trustworthy businessperson."
Altman testified that he had concerns about Musk's attempts to control OpenAI in its early years. He recalled a "particularly hair-raising moment" when co-founders asked Musk what would happen to control after his death. Altman said Musk replied control "should pass to my children."
Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman initially planned to raise $100 million in 2015, but Musk encouraged a $1 billion funding commitment, saying he would cover any shortfall. However, to achieve artificial general intelligence, they realized they needed billions annually, leading to discussions about a for-profit entity.
Musk wanted majority equity, board control, and the CEO position. When negotiations stalled, Musk withheld funding and reportedly tried to have Tesla absorb OpenAI.
Altman expressed profound disappointment, saying, "I felt like he had abandoned us, not come through on his promises... It's been an extremely painful thing for me."