TECHNOLOGY

Elon Musk, Sam Altman Begin OpenAI Trial Tuesday

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Oakland, California. A federal trial over Elon Musk's August 2024 lawsuit began with jury selection on April 27, 2026, as Musk seeks $150 billion and nonprofit reversion from OpenAI, alleging that CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman abandoned the company's founding nonprofit mission while expanding commercial operations. Opening statements are scheduled for April 28, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers; court records and internal documents including a 2017 diary entry have been entered as evidence, and any damages awarded are designated to go to OpenAI's charitable arm while Microsoft, a major investor, faces noted exposure.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

2015: OpenAI founded as a nonprofit with funding from Elon Musk.
2. Fall 2017: Greg Brockman's diary entry appears among internal documents now cited in court.
3. August 2024: Elon Musk files a civil lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman, and Brockman.
4. April 27, 2026: Jury selection begins in federal court in Oakland.
5. April 28, 2026: Opening statements are scheduled to begin in the trial.

Why This Matters to You

This trial could reshape OpenAI, a key player in artificial intelligence. If Musk wins, funds could be redirected to the nonprofit side. That might mean more focus on public good, less on commercial gain. Keep an eye on how this affects AI developments.

The Bottom Line

Elon Musk is taking on OpenAI in court, alleging it strayed from its nonprofit mission. The outcome could impact the future of AI, potentially shifting focus from profit to public benefit. Worth forwarding if you know someone interested in the ethics of AI.