On April 29, 2026, a trial opened in California federal court between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, co-founders of OpenAI. Musk accuses Altman of abandoning OpenAI's original nonprofit mission to develop artificial intelligence for public benefit, instead turning it into a for-profit entity.
Musk's lawsuit, filed in 2024, claims breach of contract and fiduciary duty. He argues that OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft and its shift to a capped-profit model violated the founding agreement. Altman and OpenAI deny the allegations, stating the changes were necessary to secure funding for advanced AI development.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with testimony from key figures in the AI industry. The outcome could have significant implications for the governance of AI companies.
