The hallway of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building in Oakland, California, has turned into an unusual gathering point in recent weeks. Journalists, attorneys, tech enthusiasts, and curious onlookers jostle every morning to secure a seat in the gallery of a trial that promises to reshape the future of artificial intelligence — and perhaps the fortunes of some of the most powerful figures in the industry. For the third consecutive day this Thursday (April 30), Elon Musk took the witness stand. Across the courtroom, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman watched in silence. The two men who were once allies in founding what would become the world's most influential AI company now exchange cold glances inside a federal courthouse. ## The Accusation: "Stealing a Charity" At its core, Musk's lawsuit is a dispute about identity and broken promises. In 2015, he was one of the co-founders and primary early funders of OpenAI, established explicitly as a nonprofit organization. The company's founding charter declared that it would seek to create open-source technology for the public benefit and that it was not organized for the private gain of any individual. Today, OpenAI is valued at approximately $852 billion. For Musk, the transformation into a for-profit company amounts to theft. In his testimony, he described three phases in his relationship with the organization: first, when he was "enthusiastically supportive"; then, when he became "a little uncertain" that OpenAI was straying from its original mission; and finally, when he felt they were "looting the nonprofit." The sum he is seeking is staggering: $134 billion. But what Musk truly wants, according to his attorneys, is to force the company back to a nonprofit structure, the removal of Altman and President Greg Brockman from the board, and the return of any ill-gotten gains to OpenAI's original nonprofit foundation. ## Three Days on the Witness Stand Much of Wednesday's questioning focused on early internal emails exchanged between Musk and OpenAI executives — including Altman and Brockman — about the possibility of introducing a for-profit structure. Musk said he was open to a for-profit subsidiary, as long as it remained subordinate to the nonprofit parent. "What you can't have is the for-profit become the main event — and that's exactly what we have here," he told the court. The most heated moments came during cross-examination by OpenAI's lead attorney, William Savitt. Musk accused the lawyer of asking questions "designed to trick" him, sparring aggressively before being cut off by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. Another flashpoint: OpenAI's defense attempted to show that Musk himself had, at certain points, pushed for the creation of a for-profit arm to compete with Google. Musk pushed back, insisting he never intended for the for-profit side to become dominant. Savitt also pressed Musk on his funding commitments, noting that despite pledging $1 billion to OpenAI, he contributed far less in cash. Musk countered that his contributions went beyond money — his reputation, his network, his early involvement — and that the total value of his input exceeded $100 million. ## Sour Grapes or Legitimate Grievance? OpenAI's narrative is the mirror image of Musk's. The company's lead attorney told the jury plainly: *"We are here because Mr. Musk didn't get his way at OpenAI. He quit, saying they would fail for sure. But my clients had the nerve to go on and succeed without him."* OpenAI argues that Musk left the company because he failed to seize total control, and that his lawsuit is driven by jealousy and regret. In 2023, Musk launched xAI, his own artificial intelligence company — now a direct competitor to OpenAI and, critics say, the real motivation behind the legal battle. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has made clear she intends to run a tight courtroom. Before testimony even began, she publicly warned both sides to restrain their social media activity during the trial. In a case involving the owner of X — formerly Twitter — that warning did not go unnoticed. ## What Comes Next The nine-person jury will serve in an advisory role, helping Judge Rogers determine whether to grant Musk's requested remedies. The trial is expected to last approximately three weeks. Still to testify: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Microsoft was named as a co-defendant in the suit, accused of facilitating what Musk calls a breach of charitable trust through its multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI's for-profit arm. On the horizon, OpenAI is planning what could be one of the largest IPOs in tech history. An unfavorable ruling could jeopardize not only that plan, but the very structure of the most valuable company in the artificial intelligence sector. Meanwhile, in that Oakland courtroom, Elon Musk continues to testify — sometimes combative, sometimes philosophical — about what he considers the greatest theft in the history of tech philanthropy. Across the room, Sam Altman waits for his turn. The story of AI has rarely felt this human. [youtube:https://www.youtube.com/embed/TxxIGDZ0psc]