eFinder

eFinder

Home › The conflict between corporate profit and charitable mission in AI development › Article

Elon Musk testifies he was a ‘fool’ to invest with ‘disingenuous’ OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in bombshell trial

Nypost · · 841 words · By Marc Vartabedian
The conflict between corporate profit and charitable mission in AI development The credibility and trustworthiness of tech founders (Musk vs. Altman)
open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/29/business/musk-and-openais-lawyer-share-testy-excha…

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
warning
Name Calling / Labeling 80% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.
warning
Appeal to Anger 70% confidence
Provoking outrage to bypass rational evaluation of an argument.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

12 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
schedule Pending 2
report Misleading 1
check_circle
“Elon Musk said he was a “fool” to trust Sam Altman with the future of OpenAI in his second day of testimony in the bombshell trial over the future of the artificial intelligence giant.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results report that during his testimony, Musk stated he was foolish to trust Sam Altman regarding OpenAI's future. The evidence confirms the context of his testimony regarding the non-profit status.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Learn about LLMs, Gen AI and get ready for the rollout of AGI. Wes Roth covers the latest happenings in the world of OpenAI, Google, Anth...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP7QN_KM7nY
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He testified that he cautiously continued funding OpenAI, paying its rent and sending $5m quarterly payments, because he received assurances from Altman that the company would remain a non-profit.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/29/elon-musk…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A courtroom sketch shows Elon Musk on the stand to testify in his lawsuit against OpenAI, its executives and Microsoft over OpenAI’s decision to start a for-profit subsidiary on April 28. Vicki Behrin…
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/29/tech/musk-openai-altman-lawsu…
check_circle
““I was a fool who provided them free funding to create a startup,” Musk told a packed federal courtroom in Oakland, Calif,. on Wednesday. “I gave them $38 million of essentially free funding to create what would become an $800 billion company.””
CORROBORATED
Web search results confirm that Savitt questioned Musk about a $38 million donation. Musk's statements about the value of his contributions and funding are corroborated by multiple search results, although the exact $800 billion valuation is not independently confirmed.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI to advance artificial intelligence (AI) research, but later left; growing discontent with the organization's direction and leadership in the AI boom in the 2020s led him …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — As Savitt questioned Musk about his $38 million donation to OpenAI, Musk said the value of his contributions—including naming the company and contributing his “reputation”—were worth much more, saying…
https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/04/29/key-mome…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He had a plan to take it private, but he kept angering regulators. SpaceX, his rocket company, was just starting to show momentum. And OpenAI, the nonprofit artificial intelligence lab he was supposed…
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/technology/musk-openai-tr…
check_circle
“Musk — who had leveled accusations from the stand a day earlier that Altman had broken a promise to build OpenAI as a charitable organization — sparred with OpenAI’s lawyer William Savitt during his cross examination on Wednesday.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Musk accused Altman of betraying the promise to keep OpenAI a non-profit organization during his testimony.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On Wednesday, Musk said his views on Altman and his OpenAI cofounders had three phases — from initial excitement to losing confidence to a period in late 2022 when he thought “wait a second, these guy…
https://www.aol.com/articles/musk-accuses-altman-betraying-p…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Elon Musk has sued OpenAI, which he cofounded with Sam Altman, right, and others. Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times, Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/28/technology/openai-sa…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — During his testimony, Musk said his concerns about OpenAI shifting from its non-profit status started in about 2017.Altman and Musk have openly sniped at each other on social media in the lead-up to t…
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/29/elon-musk…
report
“When he learned the news that OpenAI had raised $10 billion from Microsoft in 2023, Musk said it finally became clear to him that OpenAI had lost its way.”
MISLEADING
While the evidence confirms that OpenAI raised over $10 billion from Microsoft and that Musk was critical of the company's direction, the sources do not confirm that Musk specifically stated that *learning* about the $10 billion investment was the moment he realized the company had 'lost its way.' The connection is implied by the context of his criticism, but the specific trigger stated in the claim is not verifiable.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Elon Musk said in his second day of testimony that he was "a fool" for funding OpenAI. Mr. Musk grew combative during questioning from a company lawyer. Cade Metz and Mike Isaac Elon Musk's ...
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/29/technology/openai-tr…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The suit accuses the company and its founders of reneging on the agreement to "maximize profits," pointing to its relationship with Microsoft—which has invested more than $10 billion in OpenAI.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/03/06/openais…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — After UK competition officials said they were preparing to investigate Microsoft's multibillion-dollar alliance with OpenAI last week, the San Francisco-based start-up quietly made a change to ...
https://www.ft.com/content/458b162d-c97a-4464-8afc-72d65afb2…
check_circle
“He ripped Altman over what he called “disingenuous” reassurances that OpenAI would remain a nonprofit.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that Musk criticized Altman for what he viewed as 'disingenuous' reassurances regarding OpenAI's non-profit status.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He ripped Altman over what he called “disingenuous” reassurances that OpenAI would remain a nonprofit. “I texted Sam Altman, ‘What the hell is going on? This is a bait and switch,’” Musk said.
https://usa-times.news/elon-musk-testifies-he-was-a-fool-to-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — OpenAI, which is owned by a nonprofit, wants to adopt a more traditional corporate structure. Elon Musk, Meta, charities, academics, and AI entrepreneurs have raised concerns about the plan. They ques…
https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-elon-musk-sam-altman-…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — He also wants OpenAI to revert to a nonprofit, with Altman and Brockman removed as officers and Altman removed from the board. His claims include breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/news/international/elo…
info
“Musk later went on to tell the courtoom that his view of OpenAI has gone through three different phases, with the first being “Enthusiastic support” for OpenAI and it’s mission, followed by “Growing skepticism” and finally “They’re looting a nonprofit.””
SINGLE SOURCE
The web search results do not contain the specific three-phase description ('Enthusiastic support,' 'Growing skepticism,' and 'They’re looting a nonprofit.') as a direct quote or detailed account. While the sources confirm Musk's view evolved and became critical, the precise three-part quote is not independently verifiable from the provided evidence.
travel_explore
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/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Elon University is the nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. With an i…
https://www.elon.edu/u/nav-about/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Academics are different at Elon. Learning happens not just in the classroom, but around the world through rigorous, immersive experiences that prepare students to conquer the challenges of the real wo…
https://www.elon.edu/u/nav-academics/
check_circle
“Savitt also grilled Musk on a text exchange between Musk and then-board member Shivon Zilis just before Musk quit OpenAI’s board in 2018.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent web search results confirm that William Savitt questioned Musk regarding a text exchange involving Shivon Zilis, which occurred before Musk left the OpenAI board in 2018.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — "Shivon Zilis, Musk Associate, Leaves OpenAI Board"."Elon Musk Makes Rare Outing with Shivon Zilis, Mother of 3 of His Kids, as He Joins Trump in D.C." People. ^ "Elon Musk and Ashely St Clair's love …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivon_Zilis
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Savitt also grilled Musk on a text exchange between Musk and then-board member Shivon Zilis just before Musk quit OpenAI’s board in 2018.
https://nypost.com/2026/04/29/business/musk-and-openais-lawy…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — OpenAI’s counsel, William Savitt, has needled Musk on whether he read the document in full. Musk responded that he got the gist by reading the top of the document. Savitt seemed to be intentionally pr…
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/04/29/technology/openai-tr…
info
““The classic reason you can’t ask yes or no questions – Have you stopped beating your wife?” Musk said.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one web search result references Musk's use of the 'Have you stopped beating your wife?' phrase in the context of his testimony regarding yes-or-no questions. While the phrase itself is widely known, the evidence provided only links it to this specific testimony.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has alleged that Neuralink violated the Animal Welfare Act.[166] Employees have complained that pressure from Musk to accelerate development has led t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Musk often refused to answer questions as instructed, and the judge interjected several times to tell Musk to simply give a yes-or-no response.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/29/elon-musk…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The site owner hides the web page description.
https://www.reddit.com/r/EnoughMuskSpam/comments/bzyd7w/have…
help
“Savitt also displayed an email where Musk invited people to a party in a “haunted mansion” that Musk had recently bought in or around San Francisco.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references regarding William Savitt displaying an email about a 'haunted mansion' party.
help
““OpenAI should start moving toward a for profit immediately,” a party attendee said Musk said at the party in a small meeting about OpenAI’s future.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references regarding Musk allegedly telling an attendee at a party that 'OpenAI should start moving toward a for profit immediately.'
schedule
“Musk has accused OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of duping him into thinking he was donating tens of millions of dollars toward launching a nonprofit to develop AI safely and for the benefit of humanity, only to turn it into a for-profit enterprise.”
PENDING
schedule
“On Tuesday, Savitt slammed Musk’s legal agenda as a hypocritical “tale of two Elons” — calling it an attempt to throttle OpenAI after Musk launched his rival startup xAI.”
PENDING
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.