Elon Musk takes stand in trial vs. Sam Altman that could reshape AI's future

Elon Musk took the stand Tuesday in Oakland federal court in his civil lawsuit against Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Microsoft, claiming they converted OpenAI from a nonprofit charity into a for-profit venture. Musk's attorney Steven Molo argued that the defendants violated founding commitments by signing an exclusive deal with Microsoft in 2022, while OpenAI's legal team countered that Musk's claims stem from his failure to gain control of the company and are designed to benefit his rival xAI venture. The article is bylined to AP technology writer Barbara Ortutay and sourced from named courtroom statements, attorney arguments, and Musk's direct testimony, though it relies heavily on plaintiff-side framing in its narrative structure; corroborating coverage from the New York Times, CNBC, Business Insider, and The Verge confirms the basic facts of the trial's opening and Musk's testimony but shows similar reliance on opening statements rather than independent verification of underlying disputes. Watch for Sam Altman's expected testimony, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's appearance, and the three-week trial outcome, which could establish legal precedent for how nonprofit-to-for-profit pivots in AI companies are evaluated.