OAKLAND, Calif. — Two of technology’s biggest names, Elon Musk and Sam Altman, were present in federal court Tuesday as their explosive legal battle kicked off with opening arguments that could dramatically alter artificial intelligence development.
The former business partners arrived early at the Oakland courthouse for what promises to be a three-week courtroom spectacle filled with allegations of broken promises and corporate greed between the feuding tech titans.
A jury was selected Monday to hear the case that will unfold over the next several weeks.
Following initial arguments from attorneys, witnesses will begin sharing Musk’s version of events in a story packed with claims of backstabbing, dishonesty and corporate ambition that allegedly transformed OpenAI from its original charitable mission into a profit-focused company now worth $852 billion.
Musk, whose wealth is estimated at $778 billion making him the planet’s wealthiest individual, will serve as one of the key witnesses in the proceedings. His Tuesday appearance suggests he may be called to testify early in the trial.
OpenAI chief executive Altman is also slated to take the witness stand, alongside Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella, who played a crucial role in financing ChatGPT’s debut in late 2022. That chatbot launch sparked the ongoing artificial intelligence revolution that has driven stock markets to unprecedented levels.
