April 30, 2026 — 8:12am ,first published Business columnist OpenAI has argued that Musk, who helped finance the company’s early growth, is driven by a compulsion to control it and bitterness over its success after he left the board in 2018. It has said he is seeking to bolster his own AI company, SpaceX unit xAI, which lags OpenAI in user adoption. The company also contends Musk pushed OpenAI to become a for-profit business, wanted to become CEO, and alleges that safety was not a priority for him when he was with the company. Savitt asked Musk about an email he sent Altman in 2015 suggesting OpenAI be structured as a for-profit corporation with a parallel non-profit, part of an effort to show Musk was supportive of a for-profit entity. Musk said the emails did not indicate his definitive position. Advertisement “Discussions and brainstorming are not a deal,” said Musk, wearing a dark suit over a white shirt and glancing at the jury occasionally as he spoke. Seated in the courtroom, Altman and Brockman – who took notes with a red pen on a yellow legal pad – listened intently as the exchanges between Musk and Savitt grew increasingly heated. William Savitt, OpenAI’s lead attorney, had a tense confrontation with Musk in court. AP Musk repeatedly asked the lawyer to stop interrupting him. Musk answered one of Savitt’s questions by saying, “You tell me.” Savitt responded, “I get to ask the questions, Mr Musk.” Musk is expected to return to the stand for more cross-examination on Thursday. Advertisement