OpenAI Trial Reveals Altman Ouster Details, Musk Settlement

The ongoing Musk v. Altman trial has exposed previously unknown details about Sam Altman’s November 2023 firing from OpenAI and Elon Musk’s alleged attempts to control the company. Court testimony and exhibits revealed Musk’s 2018 offer to recruit Altman to Tesla and threatening texts sent days before the trial began.

Musk’s 2018 Tesla Recruitment Attempt

Months before Elon Musk left OpenAI’s board in February 2018, he attempted to recruit Sam Altman to join a “world-class AI lab” within Tesla, according to emails presented in federal court. Musk offered Altman a Tesla board seat as part of the recruitment effort.

The emails were shown during cross-examination of Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member and mother of four of Musk’s children. According to Wired, Zilis served as a conduit between Musk and Altman during this period. In February 2018 text evidence, Zilis asked Altman, “Did you think through a B Corp subsidiary of Tesla?”

OpenAI lawyer William Savitt characterized this as “part of Mr. Musk’s effort to corrupt OpenAI and absorb it into Tesla.” Musk’s core lawsuit claim alleges that Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman effectively stole a nonprofit, using the $38 million Musk invested to create a company now worth over $800 billion.

Pre-Trial Settlement Threats

Two days before the trial began in late April 2026, Musk texted Greg Brockman suggesting OpenAI settle the lawsuit, according to a TechCrunch report. When Brockman suggested both sides drop their suits, Musk responded: “By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so it will be.”

The judge ruled this text exchange inadmissible as evidence, but OpenAI’s lawyers included it in a Sunday filing to demonstrate Musk’s motivations. The exchange suggests the lawsuit may be about financial compensation rather than AI safety concerns, aligning with OpenAI’s countersuit allegations.

Altman Ouster Details Emerge

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s videotaped deposition provided the first concrete behind-the-scenes look at Altman’s dramatic November 2023 firing. The Verge reported that the board’s explanation — that Altman was “not consistently candid in his communications with the board” — remained vague throughout the public crisis.

Murati’s testimony, along with former board member Helen Toner’s deposition, was presented by Musk’s lawyers to raise concerns about Altman’s alleged history of deception. The November 2023 weekend saw rapid changes in OpenAI’s leadership structure, with the power struggle playing out largely in public view.

Key trial participants include:

• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (scheduled to testify May 11th)
• Former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever
• OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman (already testified)
• Elon Musk and Neuralink CEO Jared Birchall (already testified)

Industry Perspective on Trust and AGI

Media mogul Barry Diller, speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s “Future of Everything” conference, defended Altman’s character while questioning whether individual trustworthiness matters as artificial general intelligence approaches. According to TechCrunch, Diller called Altman “a decent person with good values” but emphasized that “trust is irrelevant because the things that are happening are a surprise to the people who are making those things happen.”

Diller, co-founder of Fox Broadcasting and chairman of IAC and Expedia Group, noted that AI creators themselves express “a sense of wonder” about their technology’s capabilities. “We have embarked on something that is going to change almost everything,” he said.

What This Means

The trial revelations paint a picture of long-standing tensions between Musk and OpenAI leadership, dating back to 2018 recruitment attempts. Musk’s lawsuit seeks to unwind OpenAI’s for-profit structure, make its technology publicly available, strip Microsoft’s licensing agreement, and compel financial damages.

The pre-trial settlement texts suggest the legal battle may be as much about financial compensation as philosophical differences over AI development. With Microsoft’s CEO scheduled to testify, the trial could reveal more details about the tech giant’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI and their partnership structure.

For OpenAI, the trial occurs during a period of rapid growth and product development. The company’s ChatGPT has become synonymous with consumer AI, while its enterprise offerings compete directly with products from Microsoft, Google, and Anthropic.

FAQ

What is Elon Musk seeking in his lawsuit against OpenAI?
Musk wants to unwind OpenAI’s for-profit structure, require public access to its technology, eliminate Microsoft’s licensing rights, and receive financial damages plus legal fees. He claims OpenAI abandoned its founding nonprofit mission.

Why was Sam Altman fired from OpenAI in November 2023?
The OpenAI board stated Altman was “not consistently candid in his communications with the board,” but specific details remained vague. Court testimony from Mira Murati’s deposition is providing the first concrete behind-the-scenes information about the dramatic weekend.

When will the Musk v. OpenAI trial conclude?
The trial is ongoing with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella scheduled to testify on May 11th, followed by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever. No specific end date has been announced, but major witness testimony appears to be wrapping up in May 2026.