Sam Altman testified that Elon Musk sought control of OpenAI, rejecting Musk's characterization that Altman stole a charity. The OpenAI CEO's testimony directly addresses Musk's allegations in an ongoing dispute over the company's governance and founding principles.
Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit research organization focused on artificial intelligence safety. He departed from the board in 2018. Altman has served as CEO since 2019. OpenAI later created a capped-profit subsidiary structure in 2023 to facilitate fundraising while maintaining its nonprofit parent.
Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman, and other defendants in March 2024, alleging breach of contract and fiduciary duty. Musk contended that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission by pursuing commercial interests and exclusive arrangements with Microsoft. He claimed the organization transformed into a de facto for-profit entity contrary to its original charter.
Altman's testimony directly contested Musk's "stolen charity" assertion. By stating it felt "difficult to even wrap my head around that framing," Altman signaled the characterization misrepresented OpenAI's evolution and governance decisions. The CEO's position suggests OpenAI made deliberate, transparent choices about its structure rather than surreptitious conversions of charitable assets.
The case raises substantive questions about nonprofit governance, fiduciary responsibilities to founding principles, and the extent to which AI research organizations may pivot toward commercialization while maintaining nonprofit status. The capped-profit model creates ongoing tension between nonprofit governance and for-profit operations.
Discovery materials and testimony have revealed internal communications about the company's strategic direction. Musk's claims challenge whether OpenAI leadership properly stewarded a organization founded explicitly to benefit humanity rather than generate shareholder returns.