It feels difficult to even wrap my head around that framing.He emphasized the foundation’s continued philanthropic work, asserting,
We created one of the largest charities in the world. This foundation is doing incredible work and will do much more.
Altman Rejects Musk’s ‘Stolen Charity’ Claim
Musk’s legal team has highlighted that OpenAI’s foundation, now boasting assets around $200 billion, only recently acquired full-time employees. However, OpenAI board chair Bret Taylor testified that this delay stemmed from the complexities of converting OpenAI equity into cash, a process largely completed with the organization’s 2025 restructuring.
OpenAI’s Genesis: A Clash Over Control and Vision
The central contention from Musk’s lawyers is whether OpenAI’s commitment to safety diminished as its commercial ventures expanded. Altman, however, testified that in 2017, during a pivotal period of securing funding for their advanced AI models, Musk’s specific plans on safety made me worry.
Altman recounted a particularly hair-raising moment
when Musk, pressed on what would happen if he died while controlling a hypothetical OpenAI for-profit, allegedly suggested, maybe OpenAI should pass to my children.
This focus on individual control concerned Altman, who believed OpenAI’s mission was to prevent advanced AI from being monopolized. Drawing on his experience at Y Combinator, Altman noted, founders who had control usually did not give it up.
Furthermore, Altman criticized Musk’s management approach, stating, I don’t think Mr. Musk understood how to run a good research lab.
He claimed Musk’s tactics demotivated key researchers and caused significant damage to the organization’s culture, citing an instance where Musk demanded a stack-ranking of researchers and their accomplishments.
Founding Tensions and Subsequent Engagements
Altman positioned himself as a defender of the sweat equity
of cofounders Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever, who were effectively leading OpenAI while both Musk and Altman held other roles. Following these unresolved clashes, Musk departed OpenAI’s board and initiated competing AI efforts at Tesla and xAI. Despite the professional split, Altman maintained contact with Musk, providing updates on OpenAI’s progress and seeking his advice and funding.
OpenAI’s attorneys highlighted that Musk was kept informed and invited to participate in the very investments his lawsuit now challenges. Altman recalled a good vibes meeting
during a 2018 discussion about Microsoft’s investment into OpenAI, where Musk spent a long conversation showing us memes on his phone.
Legal Showdown Continues, Revealing OpenAI’s Founding Tensions
The ongoing legal proceedings continue to shed light on the intricate founding dynamics and philosophical disagreements that shaped OpenAI. Altman’s testimony underscores the deep-seated tensions over control, funding, and safety that characterized the company’s early, formative years.
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