A nine-person jury [1] in Oakland, California, has begun deliberations to determine if OpenAI CEO Sam Altman can be trusted in a legal battle with Elon Musk.
The outcome of the trial could reshape the governance of one of the world's most influential artificial intelligence companies. At the center of the dispute is whether OpenAI's leadership breached its original nonprofit agreement and mishandled funds.
Closing arguments concluded on Thursday, May 14 [1]. The trial took place in the U.S. District Court, where Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presided over the proceedings. The jury is tasked with providing an advisory verdict on the credibility and trust of the defendants, which the judge will then review to make a final liability decision [1], [2].
Musk's legal team focused their final appeals on the character of the OpenAI leadership. Steven Molo, an attorney for Musk, said, "You cannot trust Sam Altman" [4]. Another lead trial attorney for Musk said, "Everyone calls him a liar" [5].
The financial stakes of the litigation are significant. Reports indicate that up to $134 billion [3] in disgorgement, and the very structure of OpenAI, are at stake in the proceedings [3].
Jury deliberations are set to begin on Monday following the conclusion of the arguments [1]. The legal team for Musk alleges that the shift from a nonprofit mission to a commercial powerhouse represents a betrayal of the organization's founding principles [2], [4].
“"You cannot trust Sam Altman."”
This case serves as a critical test for the legal enforceability of 'nonprofit' mandates when a company scales into a massive commercial entity. If the court finds that OpenAI breached its founding agreement, it could trigger a forced restructuring or massive financial penalties, potentially altering how AI labs balance open-source missions with private profit.
