Elon Musk says OpenAI is 'looting a charity' in court testimony

Elon Musk has taken the stand in the escalating legal battle surrounding OpenAI, accusing the company of straying from its original mission and effectively "looting a charity."

Testifying in court, Musk kept to his long-standing argument that OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit focused on benefiting humanity, but, as it grew and he left as one of the founders, it has since shifted toward a profit-driven model that prioritizes commercial success. His comments come as part of a broader legal dispute tied to his AI company xAI, which has already filed lawsuits alleging anti-competitive behavior and misuse of trade secrets involving OpenAI and its partners.

The testimony adds fuel to an ongoing and heated conflict between Musk and OpenAI leadership, specifically CEO Sam Altman. Musk has repeatedly criticized the company's transformation into a capped-profit structure and its deep ties with major tech players like Microsoft, using both as examples of how OpenAI has strayed from its original mission statement.

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This aligns with previous legal filings by xAI, in which Musk's company claims OpenAI has leveraged its position to unfairly dominate the AI market, including through high-profile integrations and exclusive partnerships. With Musk now publicly testifying under oath, the stakes have shifted, and it's likely the outcome of this trial will mark an important milestone in the development of regulations for AI companies.

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