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Closing arguments conclude in Musk v. Altman, jury to deliberate next week

Cnbc · · 690 words · By Ashley Capoot
Legal Proceedings Judicial conduct Corporate Governance and Ethics
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What to know about Legal Proceedings

Altman trial concluded proceedings in federal court in Oakland, California, on Thursday after attorneys for Elon Musk and OpenAI presented their closing arguments to the jury.

Claims checked 12
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center75%
Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Altman trial concluded proceedings in federal court in Oakland, California, on Thursday after attorneys for Elon Musk and OpenAI presented their closing arguments to the jury.

Why it matters

The nine-person jury, which is made up of six women and three men, will begin deliberating on Monday.

Common ground

The jury’s verdict will be advisory, which means Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final decision on liability.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/14/closing-arguments-jury-openai-musk-altman.html

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 12 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 9
schedule Pending 2
info Single Source 1
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Claim 1: “Microsoft is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit”
CORROBORATED
Confirmed by both a cross-reference (Nbcwashington) and multiple web search results stating Microsoft is a co-defendant or involved in the lawsuit.
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web search NEUTRAL — Satya Nadella’s testimony in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI may weaken claims over Microsoft’s influence and nonprofit mission shift.
https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/05/12/nadella-testimon…
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web search NEUTRAL — Unjust enrichment — did the defendants use Musk’s donations to enrich themselves through OpenAI’s for-profit arm, instead of for charitable purposes? Aiding and abetting breach of charitable trust — D…
https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/14/what-the-jury-will-actuall…
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web search NEUTRAL — Elon Musk testified for a second day in his blockbuster civil trial against OpenAI. He told a jury about how he reacted to Microsoft's $10 billion investment in OpenAI. In a text to OpenAI CEO, he bla…
https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-blasts-openai-bait…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 2: “he asked the judge to consider removing Altman and Brockman from their roles at OpenAI, and to unwind the company’s 2025 recapitalization.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm that Musk's legal filings seek the removal of Sam Altman and Greg Brockman from their roles.
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web search NEUTRAL — On November 17, 2023, OpenAI's board of directors ousted co-founder and chief executive Sam Altman. In an official post on the company's website, it was stated that "the board no longer has confidence…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Removal_of_Sam_Altman_from_Ope…
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web search NEUTRAL — Musk suggested to Brockman that OpenAI settle the suit. After Brockman replied by suggesting both sides drop their suits, the exchange went off the rails, with Musk responding: “By the end of this wee…
https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/04/elon-musk-sent-ominous-tex…
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web search NEUTRAL — OpenAI Hits Back at Elon Musk 'Legal Ambush'. In the latest round of filings, OpenAI did not bother to hide its irritation.• Order the removal of Sam Altman as OpenAI's chief executive and as a member…
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/elon-musk-legal-ambush-why-tesla-c…
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Claim 3: “The jury’s verdict will be advisory, which means Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final decision on liability.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final decision on liability and that the jury's verdict is advisory.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The election denial movement in the United States is a widespread false belief that elections in the United States are rigged and stolen through election fraud by the opposing political party. Adheren…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Election_denial_movement_in_th…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Musk v. Altman is an ongoing lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in which Elon Musk accuses OpenAI and its executives, including CEO Sam Altman, of viol…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musk_v._Altman
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Maria Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers (born February 1, 1965) is an American lawyer and jurist serving as a United States district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Appo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvonne_Gonzalez_Rogers
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 4: “Musk sued OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, the company's president, in 2024”
CORROBORATED
Five independent cross-references from CNBC confirm that Elon Musk sued OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman in 2024.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Altman — who, along with OpenAI and its president Greg Brockman, was sued by Musk in 2024
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/13/5-things-to-know-before-the-…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Musk sued OpenAI, Altman, and Greg Brockman, the company's president, in 2024, alleging that they went back on their commitments to keep the artificial intelligence company a nonprofit and to follow i…
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/30/openai-trial-elon-musk-sam-a…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — The billionaire sued OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, along with the company's president Greg Brockman, in 2024 claiming they failed to keep the company on a nonprofit status
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/04/elon-musks-odds-of-winning-l…
+ 2 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “the second stage of the trial, known as the remedies phase, will also begin.”
CORROBORATED
Web search results from ETtech Explainer and ZeroHedge confirm the existence of a second phase called the 'remedies phase'.
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web search NEUTRAL — In this second phase, Judge Rogers alone will hear arguments on potential consequences and corrective measures. Jurors will not participate in this portion of the trial and will not participate in dis…
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/ettech-…
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web search NEUTRAL — Musk v. Altman puts OpenAI's structure, valuation, Microsoft stake and Nvidia demand chain under a courtroom microscope. Here is what investors should watch.
https://www.techi.com/musk-altman-openai-trial-ai-valuation/
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web search NEUTRAL — The second is leadership. Musk's complaint seeks the removal of Altman and Brockman.The trial is expected to run another two to three weeks. The remedies phase, if it comes, will follow.
https://www.zerohedge.com/ai/how-musk-victory-vs-altman-woul…
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Claim 6: “The nine-person jury, which is made up of six women and three men, will begin deliberating on Monday.”
CORROBORATED
A specific news report from 'Local News Matters' explicitly states the jury is composed of nine jurors: six women and three men.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gregory Brockman (born November 29, 1987) is an American entrepreneur and software engineer. He is co-founder and president of OpenAI. He began his career at Stripe in 2010, upon leaving MIT, and beca…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Brockman
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Musk v. Altman is an ongoing lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in which Elon Musk accuses OpenAI and its executives, including CEO Sam Altman, of viol…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musk_v._Altman
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Samuel Harris Altman (born April 22, 1985) is an American entrepreneur who has been the chief executive officer (CEO) of the artificial intelligence company OpenAI since 2019. Altman attended Stanford…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Altman
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 7: “In January, Musk’s lawyers said their client was entitled to up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia and Forbes entries about Elon Musk's net worth in 2025/2026, but does not mention a specific claim by lawyers in January regarding $134 billion in damages.
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web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Elon Musk is #1 on Forbes' 2026 Billionaires list. Read more about Elon Musk, their experience, their asset summary, and more here.
https://www.forbes.com/profile/elon-musk/
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web search NEUTRAL — Elon Reeve Musk (/ ˈiːlɒn / EE-lon; born June 28, 1971) is a businessman and public official known for his leadership of Tesla and SpaceX. Musk has been the wealthiest person in the world since 2025; …
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk
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web search NEUTRAL — Experiential learning, outstanding teaching & mentoring, and an excellent four-year graduation rate make Elon a top-100 National University.
https://www.elon.edu/
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Claim 8: “claims the roughly $38 million he donated to the company was used for unauthorized commercial purposes.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple cross-references from CNBC confirm the claim that Musk donated roughly $38 million to OpenAI and alleges it was used for unauthorized commercial purposes.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — the roughly $38 million he donated to OpenAI in its early years
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/04/musk-altman-open-ai-settleme…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — He argued that the roughly $38 million he donated to OpenAI was used for unauthorized commercial purposes.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/13/altman-musk-trial-testimony-…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Musk also donated roughly $38 million to the AI company
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/06/elon-musk-odds-low-to-win-op…
+ 1 more evidence source
schedule
Claim 9: “she previously oversaw the antitrust case between Epic Games and Apple.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 10: “Former President Barack Obama appointed Gonzalez Rogers to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in 2011”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 11: “Musk, who co-founded OpenAI alongside Altman and Brockman in 2015”
CORROBORATED
Multiple cross-references from CNBC confirm that Musk co-founded OpenAI alongside Altman and Brockman in 2015.
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Musk co-founded OpenAI alongside Altman, Brockman and a handful of other executives and researchers in 2015.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/11/microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — He co-founded the startup alongside Altman and Brockman in 2015.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/07/open-ai-trial-shivon-zilis-m…
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cross reference SUPPORTS — Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, sued the company, Brockman and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in 2024
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/04/musk-altman-open-ai-settleme…
+ 1 more evidence source
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Claim 12: “The first phase of the Musk v. Altman trial concluded proceedings in federal court in Oakland, California, on Thursday”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm the trial took place in a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, and that the first phase focused on liability.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bret Steven Taylor (born 1980) is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur. He led the team that co-created Google Maps, was the chief technology officer (CTO) of Facebook (now Meta Platforms)…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_Taylor
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Founders Fund is an American venture capital fund formed in 2005 and based in San Francisco. The fund has roughly $17 billion in total assets under management as of 2025. Founders Fund was the first i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Founders_Fund
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Reid Garrett Hoffman (born August 5, 1967) is an American Internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, podcaster, and author. Hoffman is the co-founder and former executive chairman of LinkedIn, a busin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reid_Hoffman
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.