Jury selection will begin on Monday in the long-awaited federal trial pitting Elon Musk against Sam Altman in a case that could determine the future of the world's most valuable AI company.
Musk, who cofounded OpenAI in 2015, has sought over $130 billion in damages and the removal of Altman and cofounder Greg Brockman, saying that they betrayed the company's nonprofit mission when it turned into a for-profit entity.
OpenAI, valued at over $850 billion and eyeing a listing, has called the lawsuit "baseless" and driven by jealousy.
Also Read: Elon Musk's trial against Sam Altman to reveal the ongoing power struggle for OpenAI
Heavy hitters of Silicon Valley are expected to testify in the high-profile case. Here's a look at the list:
Elon Musk (plaintiff), CEO, xAI, Tesla, SpaceX: Musk claims Altman and Brockman enriched themselves by abandoning OpenAI's original nonprofit charter. In his dramatic style, the almost-trillionaire has called this a "Shakespearean" betrayal in his complaint.
Sam Altman (defendant), CEO, OpenAI: The primary defendant and biggest name on the other side, Altman is expected to present his version of things. He has been vocal on social media, posting on X a couple of months ago, "Really excited to get Elon under oath in a few months, Christmas in April!"
Greg Brockman (defendant), president and cofounder, OpenAI: Brockman is named alongside Altman in the suit. Musk wants both men removed from their leadership roles.
Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft: This is due to OpenAI's close partnership with Microsoft. The tech giant backed OpenAI's 2019 for-profit restructuring with a $1 billion investment. It gets five hours to present its case. Nadella is expected to testify about the company's deep financial and strategic ties to OpenAI.
Ilya Sutskever, cofounder, OpenAI; founder, Safe Superintelligence: OpenAI's former chief scientist famously helped oust Altman in 2023 before the event reversed just days later. Now running his own AI safety startup, his testimony would offer a window into the company's internal tensions.
Shivon Zilis, former OpenAI board member, Neuralink executive: Zilis is a former OpenAI board member and mother of four of Musk's children.
Jared Birchall, Musk's wealth manager and fixer: The head of Musk's family office and a key figure in his inner circle, Birchall's testimony would bring to light Musk's financial motivations and behind-the-scenes dealings around OpenAI's founding years.
Musk, who cofounded OpenAI in 2015, has sought over $130 billion in damages and the removal of Altman and cofounder Greg Brockman, saying that they betrayed the company's nonprofit mission when it turned into a for-profit entity.
OpenAI, valued at over $850 billion and eyeing a listing, has called the lawsuit "baseless" and driven by jealousy.
Also Read: Elon Musk's trial against Sam Altman to reveal the ongoing power struggle for OpenAI
Heavy hitters of Silicon Valley are expected to testify in the high-profile case. Here's a look at the list:
Elon Musk (plaintiff), CEO, xAI, Tesla, SpaceX: Musk claims Altman and Brockman enriched themselves by abandoning OpenAI's original nonprofit charter. In his dramatic style, the almost-trillionaire has called this a "Shakespearean" betrayal in his complaint.
Sam Altman (defendant), CEO, OpenAI: The primary defendant and biggest name on the other side, Altman is expected to present his version of things. He has been vocal on social media, posting on X a couple of months ago, "Really excited to get Elon under oath in a few months, Christmas in April!"
Greg Brockman (defendant), president and cofounder, OpenAI: Brockman is named alongside Altman in the suit. Musk wants both men removed from their leadership roles.
Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft: This is due to OpenAI's close partnership with Microsoft. The tech giant backed OpenAI's 2019 for-profit restructuring with a $1 billion investment. It gets five hours to present its case. Nadella is expected to testify about the company's deep financial and strategic ties to OpenAI.
Ilya Sutskever, cofounder, OpenAI; founder, Safe Superintelligence: OpenAI's former chief scientist famously helped oust Altman in 2023 before the event reversed just days later. Now running his own AI safety startup, his testimony would offer a window into the company's internal tensions.
Shivon Zilis, former OpenAI board member, Neuralink executive: Zilis is a former OpenAI board member and mother of four of Musk's children.
Jared Birchall, Musk's wealth manager and fixer: The head of Musk's family office and a key figure in his inner circle, Birchall's testimony would bring to light Musk's financial motivations and behind-the-scenes dealings around OpenAI's founding years.