Elon Musk and Sam Altman clash in OpenAI courtroom
techMay 16, 2026146
Elon Musk and Sam Altman faced off under oath in a high-stakes OpenAI lawsuit, trading tense, often contradictory testimony about key executive decisions and internal meetings. Musk pressed Altman on governance choices and the company's founding-era decisions, while Altman defended his actions and disputed Musk's characterizations. A nine-person jury will weigh both men's testimony alongside documentary evidence to determine the legal outcome. The showdown matters because it tests Sam Altman's credibility and could reshape governance, investor confidence, and oversight at one of the leading AI developers.