OpenAI Trial Heads to Jury After Closing Arguments in Musk vs. Altman Case

May 15, 2026 - 06:47

SAN FRANCISCO -- The high-stakes legal fight between Elon Musk and OpenAI moved one step closer to a verdict on Thursday, as attorneys for both sides delivered their closing arguments in federal court. A panel of nine jurors is now expected to begin deliberations next week, tasked with deciding whether the artificial intelligence company betrayed its original nonprofit mission.

The trial, which has drawn intense scrutiny from the tech industry, centers on Musk's claim that OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman abandoned the founding principles of the company. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who left the board in 2018, alleges that the organization shifted its focus from developing AI for the public good to prioritizing profits and commercial partnerships, particularly with Microsoft.

During the closing statements, Musk's legal team argued that internal documents and emails show a clear pattern of deception. They pointed to early promises that OpenAI would remain transparent and non-commercial, contrasting those pledges with the company's later moves to license its technology and raise billions in funding.

OpenAI's lawyers countered that the company has always evolved to meet the demands of building safe and powerful AI systems. They argued that Musk himself supported the idea of a for-profit structure before leaving the company, and that his lawsuit is an attempt to rewrite history after his own failed efforts to control the organization.

The jury will now weigh evidence presented over several weeks, including testimony from Altman, Musk, and other key figures in the AI world. The outcome could set a precedent for how courts interpret the legal obligations of companies that start as nonprofits and later transition to for-profit models.

Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is presiding over the case, has instructed the jury to consider whether OpenAI breached its fiduciary duties or engaged in unfair competition. A ruling in favor of Musk could force the company to restructure or face significant financial penalties.

Deliberations are expected to begin on Monday. Both sides have declined to comment on potential settlement talks.