The Verge·Apr 28, 2026

🚨Elon Musk Sworn In as First Witness in Altman Trial

Musk's Testimony Fails to Impress the Jury

TL;DR

During his opening testimony, Elon Musk appeared more petty than prepared, focusing on irrelevant details and failing to clearly tell a story about OpenAI.

In today’s opening testimony of the Musk v. Altman trial, Elon Musk was sworn in as the first witness but struggled to provide clear narrative around OpenAI's mission. Instead, he spent much time recounting his personal history and ventures unrelated to AI development. The jury seemed puzzled by Musk's lack of focus on key issues such as funding mechanisms for OpenAI and its mission statement. This trial centers on whether OpenAI betrayed its original goals and misled Elon Musk into making a charitable donation.

Elon Musk Sworn In as First Witness in Altman Trial

Key Points

1

Musk testified for over five hours on Tuesday, focusing heavily on personal achievements and biographical details (175 words).

2

During direct examination, Musk detailed his concerns about AI since childhood and interactions with Google's Larry Page (20 words).

3

The defense will now focus on Musk’s social media habits and how they relate to the case (30 words).

4

Musk claimed he worked between 80-100 hours a week, driving his involvement in various tech ventures (35 words).

5

OpenAI's formation was driven by Musk's fear of Google monopolizing AI development (25 words)

Why It Matters

This testimony impacts the credibility of both Elon Musk and OpenAI. Developers who follow AI ethics debates should pay attention to how this trial shapes future discussions around AI governance and funding.

Elon MuskSam AltmanOpenAItrial

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter?

This testimony impacts the credibility of both Elon Musk and OpenAI. Developers who follow AI ethics debates should pay attention to how this trial shapes future discussions around AI governance and funding.

What happened?

During his opening testimony, Elon Musk appeared more petty than prepared, focusing on irrelevant details and failing to clearly tell a story about OpenAI.

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