Altman vs. Elon for the future of Open AI | The Verge

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Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s court battle over the future of Open AI

Sam Altman and Elon Musk are set to face off in a high-stakes trial that could alter the future of tech’s leading AI startup, Open AI. The trial begins with jury selection on April 27th, as Musk pushes forward his 2024 lawsuit that accuses Open AI of abandoning its founding mission of developing AI to benefit humanity and shifting focus to boosting profits instead.

Musk was a cofounder of Open AI and claims that Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman tricked him into giving the company money, only to turn their backs on their original goal. However, Open AI says that “This lawsuit has always been a baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor” in a bid to boost Musk’s own Space X / x AI / X companies that have launched Grok as a competitor to Chat GPT.

In his lawsuit, Musk is asking for the removal of Altman and Brockman, and for Open AI to stop operating as a public benefit corporation. Musk has also demanded that Open AI’s nonprofit receive up to $150 billion in damages he’s asking for if he wins the case.

Here’s all the latest on the trial between Musk and Altman:

‘Sideshow’ concerns and billionaire dreams: What I learned from Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Open AI

Today, 16 minutes ago Elizabeth Lopatto The Elon Musk vs. Open AI trial starts today. I’m in the courtroom — and jury selection will begin shortly. Sam Altman is here, but I haven’t seen Elon Musk.

I’m in the courtroom — and jury selection will begin shortly. Sam Altman is here, but I haven’t seen Elon Musk.

Today, 9:03 AM UTCRobert Hart Elon Musk drops fraud claims against Open AI and Sam Altman before trial. The federal judge overseeing the case granted Musk’s request on Friday, which he says will “streamline the case” and keep things focused on “ensuring that Open AI adheres to its public charitable mission.” Two claims will proceed to trial this week. Musk Drops Fraud Claims Against Open AI, Altman Ahead of Trial[Bloomberg]

The federal judge overseeing the case granted Musk’s request on Friday, which he says will “streamline the case” and keep things focused on “ensuring that Open AI adheres to its public charitable mission.” Two claims will proceed to trial this week.

Apr 2 Elizabeth Lopatto Elon Musk is about to be a very busy boy! Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images To be honest, I thought Elon Musk would confidentially file for Space X’s IPO on the 20th of this month, rather than the 1st. But maybe that just means he’s moved on to other numbers, and we should all mark our calendars for June 7th as an IPO date just in case. Based on the April 1st filing, and the general length of an SEC review before the S-1 document becomes public, the earliest I am expecting a Space X IPO is June. (At least, assuming there is still anyone left at the SEC who wants to do their job instead of just glance at the first page of the filing, say, “Seems fine!” and then go out for a smoke break.) Of course, this process could take longer — for instance, We Work filed for an IPO in April 2019, and its S-1 was released in August for us all to laugh at. Read Article >

To be honest, I thought Elon Musk would confidentially file for Space X’s IPO on the 20th of this month, rather than the 1st. But maybe that just means he’s moved on to other numbers, and we should all mark our calendars for June 7th as an IPO date just in case.

Based on the April 1st filing, and the general length of an SEC review before the S-1 document becomes public, the earliest I am expecting a Space X IPO is June. (At least, assuming there is still anyone left at the SEC who wants to do their job instead of just glance at the first page of the filing, say, “Seems fine!” and then go out for a smoke break.) Of course, this process could take longer — for instance, We Work filed for an IPO in April 2019, and its S-1 was released in August for us all to laugh at.

‘Sideshow’ concerns and billionaire dreams: What I learned from Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Open AI

Elon Musk first sued Open AI in February 2024. Despite Open AI’s repeated attempts to throw it out, the case is now headed to a jury trial on April 27th in Northern California federal court.

Aug 25, 2025 Emma Roth Elon Musk’s x AI is suing Open AI and Apple Image: Laura Normand / The Verge Elon Musk is suing Apple and Open AI over claims that their deal to build Chat GPT into the i Phone is stifling competition in the AI industry. In a lawsuit filed on Monday, the Musk-owned X Corp. and x AI also accuse Apple’s Apple Store of “deprioritizing” rival chatbots and “super” apps, including Grok and X. Musk’s companies claim that i Phone users “have no reason” to download third-party AI apps because the company “force[s]” users to use Chat GPT as their default chatbot app when enabling Apple Intelligence. “Apple and Open AI have locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and x AI from competing,” the companies allege. Read Article >

Elon Musk is suing Apple and Open AI over claims that their deal to build Chat GPT into the i Phone is stifling competition in the AI industry. In a lawsuit filed on Monday, the Musk-owned X Corp. and x AI also accuse Apple’s Apple Store of “deprioritizing” rival chatbots and “super” apps, including Grok and X.

Musk’s companies claim that i Phone users “have no reason” to download third-party AI apps because the company “force[s]” users to use Chat GPT as their default chatbot app when enabling Apple Intelligence. “Apple and Open AI have locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and x AI from competing,” the companies allege.

Nov 18, 2024 Kylie Robison Inside Elon Musk’s messy breakup with Open AIImage: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images As Open AI was ironing out a new deal with Microsoft in 2016 — one that would nab the young startup critical compute to build what would become Chat GPT — Sam Altman needed the blessing of his biggest investor, Elon Musk.“

As Open AI was ironing out a new deal with Microsoft in 2016 — one that would nab the young startup critical compute to build what would become Chat GPT — Sam Altman needed the blessing of his biggest investor, Elon Musk.

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Aug 5, 2024 Jess Weatherbed Elon Musk is suing Open AI and Sam Altman again Image: The Verge Elon Musk has revived his complaint against Open AI after dropping a previous lawsuit, again alleging that the Chat GPT maker and two of its founders — Sam Altman and Greg Brockman — breached the company’s founding mission to develop artificial intelligence technology to benefit humanity. The new lawsuit filed in federal court in Northern California on Monday says that Altman and Brockman “assiduously manipulated Musk into co-founding their spurious non-profit venture” by promising that Open AI would be safer and more transparent than profit-driven alternatives. The suit claims that assurances about Open AI’s nonprofit structure were “the hook for Altman’s long con.”Read Article >

Elon Musk has revived his complaint against Open AI after dropping a previous lawsuit, again alleging that the Chat GPT maker and two of its founders — Sam Altman and Greg Brockman — breached the company’s founding mission to develop artificial intelligence technology to benefit humanity.

The new lawsuit filed in federal court in Northern California on Monday says that Altman and Brockman “assiduously manipulated Musk into co-founding their spurious non-profit venture” by promising that Open AI would be safer and more transparent than profit-driven alternatives. The suit claims that assurances about Open AI’s nonprofit structure were “the hook for Altman’s long con.”

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