Elon Musk appeared in the U.S. District Court in California this Wednesday to testify in person in his lawsuit against OpenAI. The billionaire spoke passionately in court, accusing Sam Altman and his partners of "stealing the charity," privatizing the cutting-edge lab that was originally non-profit and siphoning off huge profits.
Admitted on the Spot That Tesla Is Not Developing General AI
Although Musk passionately stated in court that his original intention was to develop AI for humanity, he faced severe challenges during cross-examination. When confronted with his previous tweets on social media, Musk had to admit that Tesla is currently not developing general artificial intelligence (AGI), directly contradicting his public remarks a few weeks ago that "Tesla would be one of the companies to achieve AGI."
OpenAI's lawyers also revealed Musk's early business ideas, attempting to prove that he had supported transforming OpenAI into a for-profit company and seeking control. Musk admitted that he had explored ways to control the for-profit branch of the institution around 2017 and stopped regular donations after the plan failed, which raised questions about his "purely charitable" stance.
Legal Debate Focuses on Safety Risks and Profit Limits
Another core issue in the trial was whether OpenAI's structural changes posed a threat to societal safety. Musk argued that OpenAI's transition to traditional enterprises weakened its focus on safety research; however, the defense lawyer countered that all artificial intelligence companies, including Musk's xAI, face the same commercial pressures and safety risks.
In addition, Musk was questioned about the authenticity of his investment amount. He had previously claimed to have invested $100 million, but in reality, he had only paid $38 million. As the judge announced that questioning would continue, several senior executives, including OpenAI's president Greg Brockman, are expected to appear on Thursday, bringing more key testimonies to this legal battle that could reshape the AI industry.
