Elon Musk returned to the witness stand Thursday in a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, during his lawsuit against OpenAI [1, 2].
The proceedings center on whether OpenAI reneged on its founding promise to remain a nonprofit dedicated to the benefit of humanity. The outcome could establish legal precedents regarding the governance of artificial intelligence companies and the enforceability of nonprofit charters when they transition toward commercial models.
This appearance marked the fourth day of the trial [1]. Musk has now testified for three consecutive days [3]. His return follows a cross-examination on Wednesday that lasted several hours [4].
The legal battle stems from a lawsuit Musk filed in 2024 [1]. During the testimony, Musk said that "Tesla, SpaceX and X are socially beneficial" [2].
Attorneys for OpenAI, including William Savitt, have pushed back against Musk's narrative. In response to certain lines of questioning, Musk said some aspects of the proceedings were "designed to trick" him [2].
Musk also addressed the competitive nature of the industry. He said it is "standard practice for AI labs to use their competitors' models" [5]. This admission comes as the court examines the relationship between Musk's various AI interests and the development of OpenAI's technology.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman remains a central figure in the dispute over the company's shift in direction. The trial continues to weigh the original intent of the organization against its current operational structure.
“"Tesla, SpaceX and X are socially beneficial"”
This trial serves as a critical test of whether a company can legally pivot from a nonprofit mission to a for-profit structure after attracting funding and talent based on a philanthropic promise. If the court finds OpenAI breached its original charter, it could force a restructuring of how AI labs manage their governance and intellectual property.
