Elon Musk Accused of Intimidation by OpenAI Executive During Trial

US, May 06 : A dramatic courtroom exchange unfolded in California on Tuesday as OpenAI President Greg Brockman testified that Elon Musk once behaved in a threatening manner during a tense dispute over the future direction of the artificial intelligence company.
Brockman told jurors that a confrontation in 2017 became so intense that he feared Musk might physically attack him after the billionaire entrepreneur was denied complete control over OpenAI.
“I actually thought he was going to hit me,” Brockman stated during testimony that marked the second day of his court appearance in the highly watched legal battle between Musk and OpenAI leadership.
The lawsuit, filed by Musk, accuses OpenAI and Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman of abandoning the organization’s founding nonprofit principles in favor of massive commercial profits. Musk claims the company misused his early financial backing, estimated at nearly $38 million, to create an AI powerhouse now valued at more than $850 billion.
OpenAI has strongly rejected the allegations, arguing that Musk voluntarily walked away from the company after unsuccessful attempts to secure majority authority over the organization. The company also maintains that Musk later became a direct competitor through his own artificial intelligence startup, xAI.
During cross examination, OpenAI attorney Sarah Eddy questioned Brockman regarding personal diary entries introduced earlier by Musk’s legal team. The entries were presented in an effort to suggest that Brockman strategically maneuvered within the organization during the leadership conflict.
One diary note from November 2017 included concerns about taking control of the nonprofit structure from Musk, describing such a move as “morally bankrupt.”
Responding to the courtroom scrutiny, Brockman described the journal entries as deeply personal reflections never intended for public exposure. He told the jury that despite the emotional nature of the writings, he did not regret them.
Brockman further testified that Musk’s exit from OpenAI in early 2018 was accompanied by comments indicating his desire to develop artificial intelligence technology through Tesla without prioritizing safety concerns.
According to Brockman, Musk allegedly remarked to employees that excessive caution in AI development would hinder progress, making controversial comparisons between “sheep” and “wolves” during discussions about safety regulations.
OpenAI’s legal team has argued throughout the proceedings that Musk fully understood and supported the company’s move toward commercial expansion long before filing the lawsuit in 2024. Lawyers for the company contend the legal action only emerged after Musk launched xAI, which now competes directly with OpenAI in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry.
Highlighting the enormous financial demands of advanced AI systems, Brockman testified that OpenAI currently spends nearly $50 billion annually on computing infrastructure. He contrasted that figure with the company’s spending in 2017, which was around $30 million, arguing that such rapid growth made a traditional nonprofit model financially impossible.
Brockman also acknowledged earlier testimony revealing that his personal stake in OpenAI has reached an estimated value of $30 billion as the company’s market valuation has soared.
The courtroom battle is expected to continue drawing major global attention, with Sam Altman anticipated to testify as early as next week in what has become one of the most closely followed legal disputes in the technology sector.