Altman Rejects "Stole the Charity" Claim in Musk Lawsuit

OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman testified in court, rejecting claims he acted selfishly and "stole the charity." He stated he found it difficult to understand the accusation. Elon Musk's lawsuit alleges Altman and Greg Brockman betrayed OpenAI's charitable charter by operating it for profit. Altman's testimony supports OpenAI's view that Musk's lawsuit stems from anger over not gaining personal control of the company. Altman described himself as proud of the work. He explained that a 2017 success in a video game competition showed the need for significant funding to scale AI capabilities. He said founders discussed various structures to raise money that year. Altman testified that Musk was open to a for-profit subsidiary but wanted majority equity and control, which Altman opposed. He believes AGI should not be controlled by one person. These discussions ended without agreement. Altman also stated that Musk stopped $5 million quarterly donations when he didn't get his way, leading them to raise $50 million from other investors. This trial highlights a fundamental disagreement about the future and purpose of a leading AI organization.