Sam Altman took the witness stand on Tuesday to defend his reputation in the high-stakes Musk v. Altman trial. Musk’s legal team subjected the OpenAI CEO to hours of questioning regarding his alleged history of deceptive behavior. The cross-examination marked a strategic win for Musk, who has so far struggled to make a convincing legal case. The testimony included several heated exchanges where Altman had to address allegations from former colleagues suggesting he is untrustworthy.
Highlighting this evidence is critical for Musk not only to win over a jury but also to secure victory in the court of public opinion. Shortly before the trial, Musk reportedly texted OpenAI President Greg Brockman, warning that he and Altman would soon become "the most hated men in America." Musk’s lawsuit alleges that Altman effectively hijacked the OpenAI nonprofit, leveraging Musk’s $38 million donation to build a for-profit empire now valued at over $850 billion.
However, Tuesday’s proceedings did little to address the fundamental gaps in Musk’s legal case. Both Altman and Sam Teller, Musk’s former chief of staff, testified that they did not recall Musk ever attaching formal conditions to his donations. Furthermore, evidence suggests Musk may have filed the case too late, as the statute of limitations likely expired years after his last donation and initial suspicions of a breach of trust.
OpenAI President Greg Brockman and Chief Futurist Joshua Achiam were present in the gallery, but Musk did not stay for Altman’s testimony. Flight records indicated Musk was traveling to the Washington, D.C. area on Tuesday to fly to China with President Donald Trump. Before the cross-examination, Altman painted himself as an investor deeply concerned with the safety and power of AI.
Altman testified that Musk has long been obsessed with controlling OpenAI. He recounted a "particularly hair-raising moment" when Musk suggested that control of the organization should pass to his children if he were to die—an idea the OpenAI leadership rejected. Altman also characterized Musk’s 2018 attempt to start an AI unit within Tesla as a "vague, lightweight threat," implying that Musk would crush OpenAI with or without his participation.
