Historic Showdown: Judge Seats Nine-Person Jury in Musk v. Altman-Opening Arguments Set to Ignite the Courtroom
A high-stakes legal battle has commenced between longtime colleagues and now rivals Elon Musk and Sam Altman, as a jury was seated on Monday at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers is presiding over the case, with opening arguments slated for Tuesday. This trial follows Musk’s complaint against OpenAI, Altman, and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, alleging that they breached their commitments to uphold the nonprofit status and charitable mission of the organization.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left its board in 2018, filed the lawsuit in 2024 as he accused the AI company of deviating from its original goals. After departing from OpenAI, he launched xAI, a direct competitor, merging it with SpaceX earlier this year. His legal team has sought damages, claiming Musk is entitled to as much as $134 billion in so-called “wrongful gains.” However, he has since indicated a desire to redirect any awarded funds back into OpenAI’s charitable initiatives.
Judge Gonzalez Rogers has structured the trial into two distinct phases: the liability phase, which will determine whether any wrongdoing occurred, and a remedies phase, which will assess appropriate damages and potential next steps. Notably, the jury will only weigh in on the liability aspect, while Judge Gonzalez Rogers will render the final decision in both segments of the trial. The liability phase is projected to conclude by May 21, 2024.
During Monday’s proceedings, the judge welcomed prospective jurors with a lighthearted approach while outlining the case and the trial schedule. Lawyers questioned potential jurors regarding their perceptions of both Musk and Altman, with some voicing reservations about Musk’s political views. “The reality is people don’t like him,” Gonzalez Rogers remarked, expressing confidence in the jurors’ ability to remain impartial.
Musk’s lawsuit claims he was “assiduously manipulated” and “deceived” by OpenAI leadership regarding promises to pursue a safer alternative to profit-driven tech giants. He has also urged the court to consider reversing recent structural changes that solidified OpenAI as a nonprofit with significant control over its for-profit operations.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the tension escalates between Musk and Altman. Musk took to social media platform X, stating, “Scam Altman and Greg Brockman stole a charity. Full stop.” This comment followed a statement from OpenAI’s Newsroom, which declared, “We can’t wait to make our case in court where both the truth and the law are on our side.” OpenAI described Musk’s lawsuit as a “baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor.”
From 26 claims Musk initially raised in 2024, only two remain: unjust enrichment and breach of charitable trust. His legal team dismissed claims of fraud and constructive fraud ahead of the trial in a bid to streamline their arguments.
The trial coincides with significant milestones for both parties, as Musk prepares for a potentially record-setting public offering of SpaceX, while OpenAI is also gearing up for its expected public debut later this year. The combined market valuation of Musk’s and Altman’s ventures exceeds $2 trillion, further underscoring the stakes involved in this legal clash.
As this narrative continues to develop, readers are urged to stay tuned for updates from trusted sources.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/27/musk-altman-trial-openai-jury-selection.html
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Publish Date: 2026-04-28 02:59:00
