Musk Testifies in Ongoing Legal Dispute With OpenAI
technologyreview.com
Sunday, May 10, 2026
- •Elon Musk testifies during the second week of his lawsuit against OpenAI.
- •Musk alleges he was misled into a $38 million donation by leadership.
- •Shivon Zilis provides testimony regarding Musk’s past attempts to poach Sam Altman.
The second week of the court proceedings between Elon Musk and OpenAI centers on the underlying motivations for Musk’s lawsuit. During his testimony, Musk claimed that he was deceived by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman, alleging they misled him regarding the company's mission to secure a $38 million donation.
Additionally, testimony from Shivon Zilis revealed that Musk had previously attempted to recruit Sam Altman to leave the organization. The trial continues to explore the nature of the interactions and agreements made between the plaintiff and the company's leadership team.