Elon Musk enters the Oakland federal courthouse Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images The trial over OpenAI has begun, kicking off a showdown between Elon Musk and Sam Altman. Musk was photographed entering the Oakland federal courthouse ahead of opening arguments. Sam Altman is also in the room, Business Insider's Katherine Li confirmed. Elon Musk is scheduled to testify as soon as today. At the heart of the case is Musk's accusation that Altman and other execs deceived him into donating $38 million to OpenAI based on promises that it would remain a nonprofit dedicated to developing AI for the public's benefit, and not for private gain. The trial pits two of the most powerful tech titans against each other. Musk is asking for up to $134 billion in damages and for Altman to lose his job, among other potential remedies. Inside the courtroom, from the tables to the dog A sketch from Business Insider reporter Katherine Li showing how the courtroom in the Musk v Altman trial is situated. Katherine Li Here's what the layout looks like in the Oakland, California, federal courtroom, according to a sketch from Business Insider reporter Katherine Li. From the perspective of journalists and other members of the audience in the gallery, Elon Musk and his legal team have a big table on the left, and Sam Altman's and OpenAI's legal team sit on the right. The lawyers are sitting on what is known in the legal parlance as "rolly chairs." The courtroom is filled to the brim, and there's a dog at the back of the room, near the entrance, keeping everyone safe. Elon's donation didn't come with strings attached: OpenAI lawyer William Savitt, representing Sam Altman and OpenAI, is spending his opening statement batting away Elon Musk's claims that his $38 million in charitable donations came with conditions. Musk alleges Altman deceived him by taking the money and then transforming OpenAI into a for-profit enterprise. "The question is whether OpenAI made specific promises to Musk when he made his donations," Savitt said. "And the answer to that is no." Judge calls out Musk—Altman clash over case posts Ahead of Tuesday's opening statements, US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers reportedly called out Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who were both in the courtroom, over their public sparring about the case a day earlier. The judge begged the billionaire onetime pals to stop the online potshots. "After they posted very publicly about this case, only then did I respond," Musk told the judge, according to an X post from journalist Mike Swift. On Monday, Musk and OpenAI traded barbs on Musk's X platform about the case, with Musk referring to Altman as "Scam Altman" and OpenAI ripping Musk's lawsuit as a "baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor." OpenAI lawyer: 'Musk never cared about OpenAI being a nonprofit' William Savitt Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images In his own opening statement, William Savitt, representing Sam Altman and OpenAI, says Elon Musk brought the lawsuit because he's losing the AI race. "The evidence will show that Musk never cared about OpenAI being a nonprofit, he never cared about open source, he never cared about AI safety," said Savitt, of the elite Wall Street law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. "The only thing Musk cared about is being on top." It's a packed house Scene outside the Oakland federal courthouse on Monday Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images The line to get into witness the epic showdown was so long, it went out the front doors of the Oakland federal courthouse. Business Insider reporter Katherine Li waited in the line earlier Tuesday with lawyers, press, and what appeared to be members of the public, before getting inside just in time for opening arguments. On Monday, the outside of the courthouse was overflowing with protesters, including a guy dressed in a robot suit with a sign that read: "Altman's AI enslaver." Here's what's happened so far Elon Musk lawyer Steven Molo kicked off the trial with opening statements attacking Sam Altman. "The case isn't about Elon Musk," Molo said. "It's about the defendants that helped Musk found a nonprofit charity OpenAI. And in the process, they have enriched themselves and breached the very principle the organization was founded upon." The trial is now in recess. A lawyer representing OpenAI and Sam Altman will present opening arguments next. Elon Musk is expected to take the stand as soon as today. OpenAI 'broke every promise,' Musk's lawyer tells the jury OpenAI, founded as a nonprofit AI research lab, "broke every promise" when it became "a for-profit operation for the good of the defendants," Elon Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, told the jury in his opening remarks. Last year, OpenAI completed a major restructuring that shifted the company toward a more conventional for-profit structure. It's now valued at over $800 million and is reportedly working toward an IPO that could take place this year. Lots of boxes — what's inside? Boxes from MoloLamken, a firm representing Elon Musk arrives to court at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on April 28, 2026 in Oakland, California. Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images Already, this case has led to a treasure trove of private emails and other documents, including text messages showing Musk asking Meta's Mark Zuckerberg to join him in an unsolicited bid for OpenAI's intellectual property. Earlier on Tuesday, employees at MoloLamken, a firm representing Elon Musk, were spotted wheeling boxes of documents into the Oakland courthouse. Nine jurors will decide the case, but OpenAI's fate will be up to the judge. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers Drew ANGERER / AFP Nine jurors will be deciding whether OpenAI is liable in the trial. If OpenAI is found liable, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will be deciding the remedies in a separate phase. As Business Insider has previously reported, Judge Gonzalez Rogers is considered tough but fair. Musk has asked her to reverse the transformation of OpenAI's for-profit arm and disgorge it of "ill-gotten gains." Read full story Elon boosts New Yorker article on Sam Altman Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ahead of the trial's opening arguments, Elon Musk boosted the visibility of a New Yorker magazine investigation about Sam Altman. The New Yorker story examined claims that Altman had been dishonest in business dealings and in running OpenAI — claims that dovetail with Musk's lawsuit. On Musk's social media network X, formerly Twitter, a post from one of the article's co-authors Ronan Farrow was labeled as "Boosted" and said, "This organic post was boosted by @elonmusk." Read full story Without Musk, there's no OpenAI, his lawyer says ChatGPT illustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images In his opening statements, Elon Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, explained how the Tesla CEO provided tens of billions of dollars for "OpenAI to get up and running off the ground." "Without Elon Musk, there will be no OpenAI," Molo told the federal jury. Musk helped found the ChatGPT maker in 2015, together with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and company president Greg Brockman, who is also a defendant in the case. Case isn't about Elon Musk, his lawyer says Steve Molo at court on Tuesday Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images The Musk v. Altman civil trial kicked off with opening statements on Tuesday, first led by Musk's attorney, Steven Molo. "The case isn't about Elon Musk," Molo told the nine-person jury at the top of his remarks as Musk looked on from the courtroom. During jury selection, some jurors took issue with Musk, with one referring to him as a "world-class jerk" in a pre-trial questionnaire. "It's about the defendants that helped Musk found a nonprofit charity OpenAI," Molo said. "And in the process, they have enriched themselves and breached the very principle the organization was founded upon." Elon Musk goes through security Elon Musk goes through courthouse security Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images Photogs have already captured Elon Musk, the world's richest man and CEO of Tesla, entering the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California, where his civil case is underway. The lawyers will kick off the trial with opening arguments, followed by the witnesses. Musk could be the first witness in his $134 billion case against Sam Altman and OpenAI, which he helped start in 2015. 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Elon Musk enters the Oakland federal courthouseBenjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images The trial over OpenAI has begun, kicking off a showdown between Elon Musk and Sam Altman. Musk was photographed entering the Oakland federal courthouse ahead of opening arguments. Sam Altman is also in the room, Business Insider's Katherine Li confirmed. Elon Musk is scheduled to testify as soon as today. At the heart of the case is Musk's accusation that Altman and other execs deceived him into donating $38 million to OpenAI based on promises that it would remain a nonprofit dedicated to developing AI for the public's benefit, and not for private gain. The trial pits two of the most powerful tech titans against each other. Musk is asking for up to $134 billion in damages and for Altman to lose his job, among other potential remedies. Inside the courtroom, from the tables to the dog A sketch from Business Insider reporter Katherine Li showing how the courtroom in the Musk v Altman trial is situated.Katherine Li Here's what the layout looks like in the Oakland, California, federal courtroom, according to a sketch from Business Insider reporter Katherine Li. From the perspective of journalists and other members of the audience in the gallery, Elon Musk and his legal team have a big table on the left, and Sam Altman's and OpenAI's legal team sit on the right. The lawyers are sitting on what is known in the legal parlance as "rolly chairs." The courtroom is filled to the brim, and there's a dog at the back of the room, near the entrance, keeping everyone safe. Elon's donation didn't come with strings attached: OpenAI lawyer William Savitt, representing Sam Altman and OpenAI, is spending his opening statement batting away Elon Musk's claims that his $38 million in charitable donations came with conditions. Musk alleges Altman deceived him by taking the money and then transforming OpenAI into a for-profit enterprise. "The question is whether OpenAI made specific promises to Musk when he made his donations," Savitt said. "And the answer to that is no." Judge calls out Musk—Altman clash over case posts Ahead of Tuesday's opening statements, US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers reportedly called out Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who were both in the courtroom, over their public sparring about the case a day earlier. The judge begged the billionaire onetime pals to stop the online potshots. "After they posted very publicly about this case, only then did I respond," Musk told the judge, according to an X post from journalist Mike Swift. On Monday, Musk and OpenAI traded barbs on Musk's X platform about the case, with Musk referring to Altman as "Scam Altman" and OpenAI ripping Musk's lawsuit as a "baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor." OpenAI lawyer: 'Musk never cared about OpenAI being a nonprofit' William SavittBenjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images In his own opening statement, William Savitt, representing Sam Altman and OpenAI, says Elon Musk brought the lawsuit because he's losing the AI race. "The evidence will show that Musk never cared about OpenAI being a nonprofit, he never cared about open source, he never cared about AI safety," said Savitt, of the elite Wall Street law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. "The only thing Musk cared about is being on top." It's a packed house Scene outside the Oakland federal courthouse on MondayBenjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images The line to get into witness the epic showdown was so long, it went out the front doors of the Oakland federal courthouse. Business Insider reporter Katherine Li waited in the line earlier Tuesday with lawyers, press, and what appeared to be members of the public, before getting inside just in time for opening arguments. On Monday, the outside of the courthouse was overflowing with protesters, including a guy dressed in a robot suit with a sign that read: "Altman's AI enslaver." Here's what's happened so far Elon Musk lawyer Steven Molo kicked off the trial with opening statements attacking Sam Altman. "The case isn't about Elon Musk," Molo said. "It's about the defendants that helped Musk found a nonprofit charity OpenAI. And in the process, they have enriched themselves and breached the very principle the organization was founded upon." The trial is now in recess. A lawyer representing OpenAI and Sam Altman will present opening arguments next. Elon Musk is expected to take the stand as soon as today. OpenAI 'broke every promise,' Musk's lawyer tells the jury OpenAI, founded as a nonprofit AI research lab, "broke every promise" when it became "a for-profit operation for the good of the defendants," Elon Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, told the jury in his opening remarks. Last year, OpenAI completed a major restructuring that shifted the company toward a more conventional for-profit structure. It's now valued at over $800 million and is reportedly working toward an IPO that could take place this year. Lots of boxes — what's inside? Boxes from MoloLamken, a firm representing Elon Musk arrives to court at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on April 28, 2026 in Oakland, California.Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images Already, this case has led to a treasure trove of private emails and other documents, including text messages showing Musk asking Meta's Mark Zuckerberg to join him in an unsolicited bid for OpenAI's intellectual property. Earlier on Tuesday, employees at MoloLamken, a firm representing Elon Musk, were spotted wheeling boxes of documents into the Oakland courthouse. Nine jurors will decide the case, but OpenAI's fate will be up to the judge. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez RogersDrew ANGERER / AFP Nine jurors will be deciding whether OpenAI is liable in the trial. If OpenAI is found liable, US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will be deciding the remedies in a separate phase. As Business Insider has previously reported, Judge Gonzalez Rogers is considered tough but fair. Musk has asked her to reverse the transformation of OpenAI's for-profit arm and disgorge it of "ill-gotten gains." Read full story Elon boosts New Yorker article on Sam Altman Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAIBloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ahead of the trial's opening arguments, Elon Musk boosted the visibility of a New Yorker magazine investigation about Sam Altman. The New Yorker story examined claims that Altman had been dishonest in business dealings and in running OpenAI — claims that dovetail with Musk's lawsuit. On Musk's social media network X, formerly Twitter, a post from one of the article's co-authors Ronan Farrow was labeled as "Boosted" and said, "This organic post was boosted by @elonmusk." Read full story Without Musk, there's no OpenAI, his lawyer says ChatGPTillustration by Cheng Xin/Getty Images In his opening statements, Elon Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, explained how the Tesla CEO provided tens of billions of dollars for "OpenAI to get up and running off the ground." "Without Elon Musk, there will be no OpenAI," Molo told the federal jury. Musk helped found the ChatGPT maker in 2015, together with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and company president Greg Brockman, who is also a defendant in the case. Case isn't about Elon Musk, his lawyer says Steve Molo at court on TuesdayBenjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images The Musk v. Altman civil trial kicked off with opening statements on Tuesday, first led by Musk's attorney, Steven Molo. "The case isn't about Elon Musk," Molo told the nine-person jury at the top of his remarks as Musk looked on from the courtroom. During jury selection, some jurors took issue with Musk, with one referring to him as a "world-class jerk" in a pre-trial questionnaire. "It's about the defendants that helped Musk found a nonprofit charity OpenAI," Molo said. "And in the process, they have enriched themselves and breached the very principle the organization was founded upon." Elon Musk goes through security Elon Musk goes through courthouse securityBenjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images Photogs have already captured Elon Musk, the world's richest man and CEO of Tesla, entering the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California, where his civil case is underway. The lawyers will kick off the trial with opening arguments, followed by the witnesses. Musk could be the first witness in his $134 billion case against Sam Altman and OpenAI, which he helped start in 2015. Read the original article on Business Insider
