OpenAI trial – In an OpenAI shareholder-duty trial, Greg Brockman testified that Elon Musk appeared so angry he feared a physical attack.
A heated meeting in OpenAI’s earliest days left Greg Brockman fearing that Elon Musk might physically attack him, according to testimony in a trial that could reshape the company’s governance.
Brockman told the court during the fifth day of the proceedings that the tension in 2017 escalated after discussions about whether OpenAI should create a for-profit structure and who would hold control.. Brockman testified that he truly believed Musk was going to physically attack him. even though there were no reports of any physical exchange.. The case centers on claims that Musk and others were misled about OpenAI’s intentions as the organization changed over time.
What happens next in this trial matters because it goes beyond personalities. It could influence how major technology companies with nonprofit roots handle control, fundraising, and accountability.
The testimony described the meeting as beginning on relatively friendly terms.. Brockman said Musk attended and had recently given Tesla vehicles as gifts, with other co-founders also exchanging related artwork.. But Brockman said the mood shifted sharply once the proposed for-profit arm came up, particularly around equity terms.. According to Brockman, Musk pressed for majority control and rejected an approach in which co-founders would receive equal shares.
Brockman testified that Musk’s stance grew increasingly confrontational, including warnings framed around funding and direction.. Brockman said Musk stood up, stormed around the room, took a painting, and left.. Brockman also indicated that, while the encounter was tense, it did not result in violence.
In this kind of corporate fight, control questions often become the real battlefield. Investors, boards, and founders can disagree not just on strategy, but on the power that steers the mission.
The trial comes as Musk is suing Brockman and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. arguing that they breached duties connected to OpenAI’s charitable structure and enriched themselves in the process.. Brockman and Altman dispute those claims. saying OpenAI remains controlled by a nonprofit foundation and that Musk had agreed years earlier to seek outside investment to attract and retain researchers.
Brockman’s testimony also covered other moments from OpenAI’s formative period. including references to a chaotic gathering at a property Musk owned and a separate discussion that left early staff concerned about Musk’s interest in AI.. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told jurors that evidence presentation could conclude early next week, allowing deliberations to begin.
For jurors, the challenge is weighing what these early disputes reveal about trust and obligations as OpenAI evolved. The outcome may set a tone for how tech-driven institutions balance mission goals with changing business structures.