Original Source

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman denied Elon Musk's 'stolen charity' claims in court, asserting the necessity of shifting to a for-profit structure for safe AI development.

Altman Emphasizes Need for For-Profit Shift

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman vehemently rejected Elon Musk's central claim of 'stealing a charity' during his court testimony. Altman argued that transitioning to a for-profit structure was the only viable way to raise the significant capital required for developing safe and powerful artificial intelligence. He stated that he found it difficult to comprehend Musk's framing of the situation, countering claims that OpenAI and Microsoft betrayed the organization's non-profit principles.

Musk's Control Ambitions and Altman's Rebuttal

While Musk has positioned himself as a defender of OpenAI's original safety mission, Altman testified that Musk sought to profit from and control OpenAI. Altman cited Musk's early pushes for a controlling stake or a merger with Tesla, and even his desire for control to pass to his children after his death. The trial, which began last month in federal court in Oakland, stems from Musk's 2024 lawsuit accusing Altman, Greg Brockman, and Microsoft of betraying OpenAI's non-profit mission.

*Source: Axios (2026-05-13)*

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