Deliberations are set to begin on Monday in the high-profile trial between Elon Musk and artificial intelligence company OpenAI, as the billionaire accuses the firm and its CEO Sam Altman of abandoning its original nonprofit mission.
Image: The Economic Times
The case, heard in Oakland, California, centres on Musk’s claim that OpenAI shifted from its founding purpose as a nonprofit research organisation into a profit-driven enterprise valued at around $850 billion following the success of ChatGPT.
Musk alleges that OpenAI co-founders misused approximately $38 million in donations that were intended to support AI development for the benefit of humanity, and instead used the transition to pursue commercial interests.
If successful, the lawsuit could force OpenAI to reverse its corporate structure and potentially unwind partnerships with major investors including Microsoft, Amazon and SoftBank.
During closing arguments, Musk’s legal team argued that OpenAI deviated from its founding principles, while OpenAI’s lawyers rejected the claims and challenged Musk’s credibility, citing testimony from associates linked to the billionaire.
The jury will first consider whether Musk filed the lawsuit within the legal time limit, a key threshold issue that could determine whether the case proceeds further.
If the case continues, jurors will assess whether OpenAI’s leadership breached commitments tied to Musk’s early contributions and whether the company’s transition to a commercial model violated those agreements.
The verdict could have major implications for the governance and future structure of one of the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence companies.
