Elon Musk said to a federal jury on Wednesday that he once considered offering Sam Altman a seat on Tesla’s board of directors [1].
The revelation comes during a high-stakes legal battle between Musk and OpenAI. This potential alliance, had it occurred, would have linked the world's most valuable electric vehicle company with the leader of the most prominent artificial intelligence firm.
Testimony took place during a federal trial in Oakland, California [2]. The proceedings center on a legal feud regarding the direction of OpenAI and allegations of broken promises regarding the company's original mission [1].
Musk mentioned the idea of the board seat during his time on the witness stand [2]. The disclosure highlights the complex and often contradictory relationship between the two tech figures, who were once collaborators before becoming legal adversaries.
While the proposal was weighed, it did not materialize into a formal offer or appointment. The trial continues to examine the governance and operational shifts at OpenAI that led to the current litigation [1].
Musk has previously clashed with Altman's legal team during the trial. In a separate instance while testifying, Musk said that Altman's lawyer was trying to trick him [2].
“Musk considered offering Sam Altman a seat on Tesla’s board of directors”
This testimony underscores the volatility of the relationship between Musk and Altman, suggesting that despite their current legal hostility, there was a period where a strategic corporate merger of influence was possible. It provides a glimpse into Musk's perceived strategy of integrating AI leadership directly into Tesla's governance to accelerate the company's autonomous goals.
