Musk and Altman face off in federal court. Here's what to know.

MoneyWatch The legal showdown between Elon Musk and Sam Altman begins today. Here's what to know. .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Mary Cunningham Mary Cunningham Reporter, MoneyWatch Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. She previously worked at "60 Minutes," CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program. Read Full Bio Mary Cunningham Updated on: April 27, 2026 / 12:49 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Jury selection begins Monday in a high-profile case brought by Tesla CEO Elon Musk alleging that Sam Altman's OpenAI, which was founded as a nonprofit research lab, prioritized profits over its original mission to benefit humanity as it ballooned into a corporate enterprise.Musk originally sued in 2024, alleging that OpenAI, Altman, and OpenAI President Greg Brockman betrayed the company's founding agreement to be altruistic stewards of a revolutionary technology that would eventually result in the launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Musk is seeking an unspecified amount to fund the charitable arm of OpenAI, as well as Altman's removal from the OpenAI board. OpenAI, which Musk and Altman co-founded in 2015, is valued at $852 billion, according to the Associated Press.Opening statements could begin as early as Tuesday. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who is presiding, will make the final decision in the case, with the jury serving in an advisory role.The trial is expected to provide riveting theater, with contrasting testimony from two of technology's most influential and polarizing figures: the 54-year-old Musk and the 41-year-old Altman.OpenAI declined to comment on Friday. In a post on X on Monday, the company called the lawsuit a "baseless and jealous bid to derail a competitor." Musk's xAI operates the AI chatbot Grok, which debuted in 2023 and competes with OpenAI."We'll also finally have the chance to question Mr. Musk under oath before a jury...