Elon Musk Testifies That He Started OpenAI to Prevent a ‘Terminator Outcome’
Elon Musk testified in a federal courtroom that he co-founded OpenAI as a nonprofit to counter the risks of AI surpassing human control, warning of a 'Terminator outcome,' while accusing Sam Altman of abandoning its original mission by prioritizing a for-profit structure. Musk claimed the shift, especially after Microsoft's $10 billion investment, undermined OpenAI's safety-focused, open-source roots. OpenAI's legal team countered that Musk was aware of and did not object to for-profit plans earlier, and that his lawsuit is untimely and motivated by competition. The judge urged both Musk and Altman to refrain from inflaming the case on social media, as tensions spilled into public posts ahead of the trial.
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Paresh DaveMaxwell ZeffBusinessApr 28, 2026 5:35 PMElon Musk Testifies That He Started OpenAI to Prevent a ‘Terminator Outcome’The judge also warned Musk and Sam Altman to curb their “propensity to use social media to make things worse outside the courtroom” after both sides traded attacks online.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyElon Musk and Sam Altman appeared in a federal courtroom together for the first time on Tuesday as they fight over OpenAI’s decade-long evolution and what it means for the company’s future.The trial in Musk’s lawsuit against Altman could result in financial damages and, more significantly, governance changes at OpenAI that may complicate its plans for an initial public offering…
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