A high-profile legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has begun in the United States, with jury selection underway in a case that could reshape the future of artificial intelligence governance.
The dispute centres on claims by Musk that OpenAI abandoned its original non-profit mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity, shifting instead toward commercial interests. The trial, taking place near San Francisco, pits Musk against a company he co-founded in 2015 but later left, and which he now competes with through his own venture, xAI.
At the heart of the case is a broader debate about whether advanced AI systems should prioritise public good or corporate profit. OpenAI’s flagship product, ChatGPT, has become a dominant force in the sector, rivaling Musk’s Grok chatbot developed under xAI.
During jury selection, potential jurors were questioned about their views on both men and whether they could remain impartial. While some expressed strong opinions about Musk, Altman appeared to generate less immediate reaction among those considered for the panel.
Musk’s legal team argues that he was misled when investing millions into OpenAI, believing it would remain a non-profit entity whose technology “would belong to the world.” However, OpenAI later created a commercial arm to secure the massive funding required for AI infrastructure, including significant backing from Satya Nadella and Microsoft.
In response, OpenAI has rejected Musk’s claims, arguing that their split stemmed from disagreements over control rather than mission. The company has characterised the lawsuit as a personal dispute driven by competition and ambition.
The case is being overseen by Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is expected to decide by mid-May whether OpenAI violated any commitments made to Musk. Although an advisory jury will weigh in, the final ruling will rest with the judge.
Musk had initially sought damages reportedly as high as $134 billion but has since said any financial award would be redirected to OpenAI’s non-profit arm. His lawsuit also calls for structural changes within the company, including the removal of Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman.
The outcome of the trial is likely to have far-reaching implications, not only for the companies involved but also for how artificial intelligence is developed, funded and governed in the years ahead.