OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has testified in a high-stakes legal battle, directly addressing accusations from co-founder Elon Musk regarding the company’s transition from its original nonprofit roots. Musk, who helped launch the artificial intelligence startup in 2015, has alleged that the leadership team effectively betrayed the organization’s charitable mission by pivoting toward a for-profit structure. Altman countered these claims by detailing the startup’s early instability and asserting that Musk had largely disengaged from the project after failing to secure full control.

During extensive testimony in Oakland, California, Altman explained that the company’s shift in strategy was a necessary evolution to secure the massive computational resources required for development. He revealed that Musk departed the board in 2018 following unsuccessful negotiations over the firm’s future, during which Musk had reportedly expressed skepticism that the venture could survive without immediate, multi-billion-dollar investments. According to Altman, the decision to explore for-profit models was not a departure from the organization’s goals but a survival mechanism for a firm now valued at hundreds of billions of dollars.

Altman also shed light on the internal power struggles that preceded Musk’s exit, noting that the billionaire had proposed merging OpenAI into his automotive company, Tesla. Altman stated that he declined this proposal, fearing it would dilute the nonprofit’s mission and create conflicts of interest. The proceedings also touched upon past internal controversies, including the brief 2023 ouster of Altman from the board, which legal counsel for Musk attempted to use as evidence to challenge his credibility.

As the trial moves toward a conclusion, the nine-person jury is tasked with providing an advisory verdict on the matter. While the jury’s feedback will be significant, the final legal determination will be made by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who will decide whether the restructuring of OpenAI violated the original intent of its founders.