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.
More context
Timeline
- 1. 2015: OpenAI founded as a nonprofit with funding from Elon Musk.
- 2. 2. Fall 2017: Greg Brockman's diary entry appears among internal documents now cited in court.
- 3. 3. August 2024: Elon Musk files a civil lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman, and Brockman.
- 4. 4. April 27, 2026: Jury selection begins in federal court in Oakland.
- 5. 5. April 28, 2026: Opening statements are scheduled to begin in the trial.
Why it matters
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.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
