Sam Altman Testifies: Elon Musk Wanted 90% Stake in OpenAI

AI Summary

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified in a high-stakes trial against Elon Musk, revealing that Musk wanted a 90% stake in the company. Musk sued Altman and OpenAI, alleging they betrayed the company's original nonprofit mission.

The Lead

In a United States court, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has rejected claims from fellow tech mogul Elon Musk that he betrayed the artificial intelligence company’s original vision.

Altman's Testimony

On the witness stand on Tuesday, Altman instead framed Musk as a competitor obsessed with exercising control over OpenAI. “It does not fit with my conception of the words ‘stealing a charity’ to look at what has actually happened here,” Altman told the court.

The Dispute Over OpenAI's Equity

“An early number that Mr Musk threw out was that he should have 90 percent of the equity to start,” Altman told the jury. “It then softened, but it always was a majority.”

The Impact on OpenAI's Future

The outcome of the trial could determine the future of OpenAI, its leadership, and products like ChatGPT. As part of his lawsuit, Musk is pushing for the removal of Altman and Brockman.

The Trial's Implications

The trial comes as OpenAI prepares for a potential initial public offering that could see it valued at $1 trillion, a historically large sum. The AI industry has become a driver of eye-watering investment in recent years, with the United Nations estimating that the global market could be worth $4.8 trillion by 2033.