Start of trial between Elon Musk and creator of ChatGPT marks billion-dollar dispute in AI By Bruna
4 min read
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The trial that pits Elon Musk against OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, begins this Monday in the Oakland federal court, at Califórnia. Jury selection is scheduled for today. Opening arguments take place on Tuesday. The billionaire accuses the company of having abandoned its original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. OpenAI counters and says that Musk’s actions are aimed at controlling the industry and protecting its own AI company.
Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Sam Altman and others. Ele left the board in 2018. The dispute gained momentum in 2024 and has now reached the court stage. The businessman seeks around $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft. Parte of this amount, according to sources linked to the case, would go to OpenAI’s own philanthropic initiatives. Ele also wants the company to return to exclusively non-profit operations and for Altman and Greg Brockman to step down from executive positions.
Seleção jury opens decisive phase of the process
Oakland’s federal court receives the case at a time of strong expansion in the artificial intelligence market. OpenAI has a valuation of more than US$850 billion and is preparing a possible IPO that could reach US$1 trillion. Do On the other hand, xAI, founded by Musk in 2023, seeks to reduce the technological gap in relation to ChatGPT.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presides over the proceedings. Ela accepted Musk’s recent request to drop some fraud allegations and simplify the trial. Restam now issues charitable breach of trust and unjust enrichment. The jury will have an advisory role. The judge makes the final decision, expected to be completed by mid-May.
- Musk invested around US$38 million in OpenAI between 2016 and 2020
- Ele claims its name and early support helped attract other investors
- OpenAI restructured in 2019 to accept external capital
- Microsoft entered into partnership following Musk’s departure from the board
- Shivon Zilis, former OpenAI advisor and mother of Musk’s children, is expected to testify
Musk accuses abandonment of non-profit mission
The founder of Tesla and SpaceX maintains that OpenAI betrayed the initial agreement. Segundo he, the company became a “wealth machine” by prioritizing profit. Documentos revealed in the lawsuit shows that Musk questioned the direction of the project as early as 2017 and attempted to take control as CEO at the time. Ele left the board in 2018 anticipating difficulties against Google.
OpenAI was born in a simple laboratory, in Greg Brockman’s apartment. Musk helped attract elite talent. Altman described the initiative as the “AI Project Manhattan” when presenting the idea to the billionaire in 2015. The launch of ChatGPT in late 2022 accelerated the company’s global growth.
OpenAI’s Defesa points to competitive motivation
Advogados from OpenAI argue that Musk participated in discussions about the structure change. Eles say he himself wanted to be CEO at the initial stage. The company states that the partnership with Microsoft only occurred after Musk left. In a statement released this Monday, OpenAI classified the billionaire’s actions as motivated by jealousy and regret.
Sam Altman and Greg Brockman must testify in person. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, is also on the list of expected witnesses. OpenAI argues that the focus remains on safe technological advancement and that Musk’s lawsuits seek to harm a direct competitor, xAI.
Histórico of tensions reveals evolution of the AI sector
Registros internals have shown friction since 2017. Anotações of Brockman mentioned a desire to move away from Musk, treated ironically at times. Musk predicted OpenAI’s failure against Google. The 2019 restructuring allowed for external investment and paved the way for the current success.
The case gains worldwide attention because it involves central figures from Vale and Silício. Ele comes as AI transforms industries and sparks debates about regulation and ethics. Musk’s xAI, in turn, advances in its own projects. SpaceX also plans a public offering of shares in parallel.
What’s at stake for the future of artificial intelligence
The outcome could influence how AI companies raise resources and define governance. OpenAI maintains that its hybrid framework enables rapid innovation without abandoning its commitment to humanity. Musk insists on the need to preserve the original non-profit character.
The trial takes place at Oakland, across the bay from São Francisco, OpenAI’s headquarters. Today’s jury selection marks the formal start of plenary debates. Expectativa is for in-depth testimonials about the company’s early years and the strategic decisions that shaped today’s AI market.
