Sam Altman Testifies That Elon Musk Sought Dynastic Control of OpenAI
OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman testified Tuesday that billionaire Elon Musk repeatedly sought total control of the AI company he helped found, BBC Business reported. Altman made the remarks before a federal jury in Oakland, California.
Altman Recounts a Startling Exchange on OpenAI Control
Altman described what he called a deeply unsettling conversation with Musk about succession. He told the jury that OpenAI co-founders once asked Musk directly what would happen to the company after his death. Musk apparently suggested leadership could simply transfer to his children. Altman described the moment as “hair-raising.” Musk is now suing Altman, alleging he misused what began as a charitable organisation to build private wealth.
Beyond succession, Musk reportedly pursued multiple avenues to entrench his influence. Altman said Musk lobbied for additional board seats and the chief executive role for himself. He also floated folding OpenAI into Tesla as a subsidiary of the electric vehicle company. The pitch centred on Musk’s belief that his celebrity and public reach could unlock faster, larger funding rounds. Altman recalled Musk suggesting a single post from him could generate enormous financial value for the company instantly.
Background: OpenAI’s Rocky Founding Years
OpenAI launched in 2015 as a non-profit research lab. Musk was among its earliest backers, contributing roughly $5 million each quarter. By early 2018, he had departed the organisation entirely. Altman testified that Musk sent a message declaring OpenAI had no chance of succeeding without him. When OpenAI began restructuring into a for-profit entity in 2019, Altman offered Musk the chance to invest. Musk declined, saying he would not back any venture he did not personally control.
Altman made clear he and co-founders Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever unanimously rejected ceding that kind of authority. He said their founding conviction was that no single individual should hold dominion over artificial general intelligence, or AGI, the theoretical threshold at which AI surpasses human capability across most tasks.
What the Trial Could Mean for OpenAI’s Future
The Musk v. Altman lawsuit centres on whether OpenAI betrayed its original non-profit mission by commercialising aggressively. Musk’s legal team argues the transition amounted to looting a charity. Altman’s testimony pushes back forcefully, framing Musk as someone who wanted the company’s trajectory to serve his personal ambitions rather than its stated public mission. The trial is being closely watched across the technology and investment communities as OpenAI continues its expansion.
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