A California jury dismissed Elon Musk’s lawsuit alleging OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission, ruling claims were filed too late.
A jury unanimously dismissed Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, ruling the claims were barred by the statute of limitations. Musk sought over $180 billion in damages and leadership changes at the AI firm, alleging a shift from nonprofit to for-profit violated founding agreements.
The case centered on OpenAI’s 2019 restructuring, which Musk argued betrayed its original charitable mission. OpenAI countered that Musk supported the for-profit model before later turning against the company. The trial included testimony from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI executives, revealing internal disputes and governance changes.
OpenAI is pursuing a potential public listing, while Musk’s AI ventures, including xAI, remain private. The ruling removes a legal cloud over OpenAI’s governance as it competes with Anthropic and other AI firms.