Sam Altman accused of 'chaos and deceit' at OpenAI trial
Musk's lawsuit centres on the claim that OpenAI abandoned its founding agreement to benefit humanity
The high-stakes trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI has placed CEO Sam Altman under intense pressure, as damaging testimony from former colleagues paints a picture of a chaotic and untrustworthy leader at the helm of the artificial intelligence giant.
The ongoing legal battle in Oakland, California, has seen a parade of Silicon Valley heavyweights take the stand, but it is the words of Sam Altman's former inner circle that have proven most explosive.
Musk's lawsuit accuses Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman of betraying the company's original non-profit mission for personal gain.
A pattern of lying
In stunning video testimony, OpenAI's former chief technical officer, Mira Murati, accused Altman of "creating chaos" at the company. Murati, once a close associate, told the court Altman had a pattern of "saying one thing to one person and completely the opposite to another person", which created a "very chaotic environment".
The court heard that these concerns were widely shared among the company's former leadership. In a video deposition, former board member Helen Toner spoke of a "pattern of behaviour related to his honesty and candor" that led to Altman’s brief ousting in 2023.
Another former board member, Tasha McCauley, alleged Altman's leadership caused "repeated crisis events" and fostered "a culture of lying and a culture of deceit".
Perhaps most damningly, Ilya Sutskever, an OpenAI co-founder who left in 2024, confirmed on the stand that he previously told the board that Altman "exhibits a consistent pattern of lying".
'Amateur city'
The trial has also re-examined the dramatic five-day period in November 2023 when Altman was fired and then swiftly reinstated. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, whose company is OpenAI's largest investor, testified that the board never gave him a specific reason for the firing. He described their handling of the situation as "sort of amateur-city as far as I’m concerned", adding he was worried employees would leave en masse.
Musk's lawsuit centres on the claim that OpenAI abandoned its founding agreement to benefit humanity and became a for-profit entity controlled by Microsoft.
"If we make it OK to loot a charity, the entire foundation of charitable giving in America will be destroyed," Musk told the jury.
OpenAI and Altman deny all allegations, arguing the case is motivated by Musk's jealousy after he left the company in 2018. Their lawyers claim Musk himself wanted to turn OpenAI into a commercial entity.
With Altman expected to take the stand this week, the pressure is mounting. The trial's outcome could not only determine the future of the multi-billion-dollar company but also irrevocably shape the public perception of the man at the forefront of the AI revolution.