OpenAI CEO Sam Altman testified in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against the company, according to CNBC. The case centers on OpenAI’s transition to for-profit status and the commercial disputes between the two parties. It is one of the most closely watched legal battles in the tech industry.

According to multiple sources, several US tech executives including Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook are expected to accompany President Trump on his visit to China. This arrangement underscores the centrality of trade and technology issues in the diplomatic mission.

Tech Leaders’ Diplomatic Role

The participation of Musk and Cook signals that the visit will likely focus on bilateral trade, supply chain cooperation, and competition and coordination in the technology sector. Tesla has a massive production base in China, while Apple remains heavily dependent on Chinese supply chains, tying both CEOs’ interests closely to the Chinese market.

US-China Relations Context

The visit comes against a backdrop of sustained tensions in US-China relations. The two sides have differences across trade, technology, and geopolitics, but also maintain deep economic interdependence.

Market Expectations

Wall Street is cautiously optimistic about the visit. Markets hope both sides can reachphased consensus in certain areas, particularly regarding tech companies and trade access. However, analysts caution that the likelihood of major breakthroughs remains limited.

Potential Topics

Expected discussion topics include: tech product market access, tariff policy adjustments, supply chain security, and the boundaries of cooperation and competition in frontier areas such as AI and semiconductors.

An OpenAI co-founder has described a tense confrontation with Elon Musk in a BBC interview, saying he feared physical violence during a heated exchange over the AI lab’s future direction.

The clash highlights the intensifying power struggle within the AI industry. Musk was a co-founder of OpenAI but later left to establish competing xAI. The confrontation reportedly occurred at a private meeting on AI safety.

On May 1, 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported that Elon Musk’s total compensation from Tesla last year exceeded $158 billion, setting yet another record for U.S. corporate executive pay.

According to the report, Musk’s compensation was primarily composed of equity-based awards tied to Tesla’s stock performance and pre-set performance milestones. This pay package had previously faced legal challenges in Delaware courts but ultimately received shareholder approval.

The $158 billion compensation figure is equivalent to the combined annual pay of hundreds of CEOs at major U.S. public companies. Critics argue that such astronomical executive compensation exacerbates income inequality in American society, while defenders contend that Musk’s value creation for Tesla justifies the reward.

While Musk received this record-breaking compensation, Tesla faces intensifying market competition. Chinese EV maker BYD and other rivals continue to expand their global market share, while Tesla itself is advancing autonomous driving technology and developing the Optimus humanoid robot.

Additionally, Musk simultaneously manages multiple companies, including SpaceX, the social media platform X, and the neurotechnology company Neuralink. This “multi-front” management style has raised investor concerns about potential distraction.

Analysts note that Musk’s extraordinary compensation reflects the capital market’s extreme pricing of tech company leadership value, and it continues to spark debate about corporate governance and the reasonableness of executive pay structures.

Source: Wall Street Journal

The legal battle between Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman entered its fourth day of critical courtroom testimony.

According to Reuters, Musk admitted on the stand that he “did not read the fine print” when signing documents related to OpenAI’s transition from a nonprofit organization to a for-profit entity. This testimony emerged as a key focal point of the trial.

Business Insider highlighted four key takeaways from day four of the proceedings, including testimony from Musk’s money manager. The trial has revealed deep divisions between the two tech leaders on AI development trajectories and corporate governance philosophy.

Notably, the judge reminded both sides’ lawyers that AI technology itself is not on trial — the case centers on corporate governance and the interpretation of legal contracts. NBC News reported that the judge’s statement aims to keep the proceedings focused on legal issues rather than broader AI debates.

The New York Times analysis noted that Musk’s claims about AI dangers face limits in the courtroom. As a co-founder of OpenAI, Musk left the organization in 2018 and subsequently founded rival company xAI. His core legal argument seeks to block OpenAI’s for-profit transition.

CNN previously reported that this landmark tech showdown began this week, with court proceedings shedding light on the collaboration and conflicts between the two sides during OpenAI’s early days. As the trial progresses, more information about AI industry internal governance structures is being made public.

Sources: Reuters, Business Insider, NBC News, The New York Times

Elon Musk took the stand on April 28, 2026, in the ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, delivering sharp testimony in which he accused co-founder Sam Altman of betraying both him and the public by transforming a non-profit organization with a public mission into a profit-seeking enterprise.

Key Testimony

“It’s not OK to loot a charity,” Musk told the court. He emphasized that the outcome of the case extends beyond his personal interests, touching the very foundation of the charitable giving system.

Musk was a co-founder of OpenAI, which was established in 2015 as a non-profit organization with the stated mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity, rather than being monopolized by a small group. However, following the explosive success of ChatGPT and the broader AI boom, OpenAI transitioned to a “capped-profit” model in 2019 and subsequently attracted billions in investment from Microsoft.

The Core of the Dispute

Musk’s lawsuit centers on several key claims:

1. Mission Drift: Musk alleges that OpenAI abandoned its original non-profit mission, prioritizing technology and profit over public good.
2. Governance Structure: He questions OpenAI’s current governance framework, arguing that Altman and management have effectively taken control of an organization that nominally still operates under the banner of “ensuring AI benefits humanity.”
3. Public Interest: Musk stressed that the case concerns “the basis of charitable giving,” warning that if non-profit organizations can freely convert into for-profit entities, it would undermine public trust in the entire charitable sector.

Industry Implications

The case is widely regarded as one of the most consequential legal battles in the AI industry. Analysts note that regardless of the outcome, the ruling will have far-reaching implications for the business models and regulatory frameworks of the global AI sector.

The AI industry is currently in a period of intense competition. Tech giants including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are all accelerating their AI investments, and OpenAI’s business model and governance structure have become focal points of industry debate.

Altman’s Response

Altman has previously denied Musk’s allegations, arguing that OpenAI’s transition to a profit-cap structure was necessary to achieve greater impact rather than to pursue personal gain. In earlier court filings, Altman stated that the organizational change enabled OpenAI to attract top talent and large-scale investment, thereby accelerating the pace of AI development.

The legal battle between the two tech visionaries continues, and the final outcome is expected to shape the future trajectory of the global AI industry.

Source: Al Jazeera, BBC News

On April 28, 2026, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk took the stand in the highly anticipated lawsuit against OpenAI, delivering some of the most dramatic courtroom testimony yet in this closely watched legal battle.

The “Stolen Charity” Allegation

When asked by his attorney what the lawsuit was fundamentally about, Musk, dressed in a dark suit and tie, responded with a direct answer: “It’s actually very simple. It’s not okay to steal a charity. If it’s okay to loot a charity, the entire foundation of charitable giving will be destroyed.”

Musk’s testimony strikes at the heart of OpenAI’s transformation from a nonprofit research organization into a for-profit enterprise. In 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI alongside Sam Altman and others, with the promise of advancing artificial intelligence in an open, nonprofit framework. However, as products like ChatGPT achieved massive commercial success, OpenAI gradually shifted toward a profit-driven corporate structure, now valued at over $100 billion.

OpenAI’s Counter: A Competitor’s Attack

OpenAI attorney William Savitt sharply questioned Musk’s motives during the proceedings. “We’re here because Mr. Musk didn’t get his way at OpenAI,” Savitt stated. “Because he’s a competitor, Mr. Musk will do anything to attack OpenAI.”

Savitt pointed out that Musk has since launched his own AI company, xAI, which produces the Grok series of models — a direct competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The lawsuit, therefore, is essentially a competitive strategy rather than a principled defense of charitable governance.

Judge Warns Both Sides to Restrain Themselves

The presiding judge issued a clear warning to both Musk and Altman, urging them not to use their respective social media platforms to influence the trial. This warning reflects the judge’s concern over the enormous social media influence wielded by both tech leaders — Musk owns the X platform (formerly Twitter), while Altman is also an active public communicator.

Background and Broader Implications

The core dispute in this lawsuit centers on OpenAI’s governance structure and mission shift. Musk alleges that OpenAI violated its original open and nonprofit commitments, turning AI technology meant to serve all of humanity into a profit-seeking enterprise.

Meanwhile, OpenAI argues that the transition to a for-profit structure was necessary to secure the funding required to advance AI research and development, and that its core mission remains “ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.”

Regardless of the final ruling, this case will have profound implications for governance models across the AI industry. It is not only about OpenAI’s future direction but could also set a legal precedent for how tech startups can — or cannot — adjust their business models as they evolve.

Analysts note that a victory for Musk could create a dangerous precedent: allowing founders to file retroactive claims against transformed companies under the banner of “charity,” thereby significantly hindering tech startups’ ability to adapt their business models to developmental needs.

Source: BBC News - Musk says basis of charitable giving at stake in OpenAI lawsuit