Microsoft CEO Takes Stand in Third Week of Elon Musk Megatrial Against OpenAI -- WSJ

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By Angel Au-Yeung

Microsoft Chief Executive Satya Nadella has taken the stand in a landmark trial pitting him against Elon Musk in the billionaire's lawsuit against OpenAI.

Musk is suing OpenAI and its leaders, Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, for allegedly manipulating him into giving tens of millions of dollars to a nonprofit organization, only for them to turn the AI lab into a for-profit venture. Musk is also suing Microsoft -- OpenAI's largest investor -- for aiding Altman and Brockman in their alleged deception.

Remedies that Musk is asking the court to grant include removing Altman and Brockman from their leadership roles and up to $180 billion in damages to be transferred from the company's for-profit company to its nonprofit parent.

OpenAI has said that Musk not only knew about the for-profit conversion plan, but that he also supported it and asked for unilateral control. OpenAI leadership refused to give him a majority stake. Soon after in 2019, OpenAI secured a large investment from Microsoft.

Other witnesses who have so far testified in this blockbuster trial include Musk, Brockman, as well as former OpenAI board member and Musk's romantic partner Shivon Zilis.

Altman is also expected to take the stand this week, though he has shown up for court nearly every day of the trial.

News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, has a content-licensing partnership with OpenAI.

Write to Angel Au-Yeung at angel.au-yeung@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 11, 2026 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT)

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