Musk V. Altman: The Tech Trial Of The Decade?

InnovationEnterprise TechMusk V. Altman: The Tech Trial Of The Decade?ByTim Keary,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tim Keary is a reporter covering enterprise AI adoption.Follow AuthorApr 28, 2026, 11:38am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Image of Elon Musk. Article released amid Musk v. Altman lawsuit. (Photo by Allison Robbert-Pool/Getty Images)Getty ImagesJury selection began Monday for the Musk v. Altman lawsuit at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California. The $134 billion lawsuit alleges that OpenAI cofounder and CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman manipulated Elon Musk into cofounding “their spurious non-profit venture." On Monday, Musk issued new comments on the case, saying, “Scam Altman and Greg Stockman stole a charity. Full stop,” in a post on X. “The fundamental question is simply this: Do you want to set legal precedent in the United States that it is ok to loot a charity? If so, you undermine all charitable giving in the United States forever.” The trial comes just after SpaceX unveiled plans to acquire AI coding giant Cursor for $60 billion ahead of plans to launch an IPO. It also comes as OpenAI is on the path toward its own IPO. With two of the biggest names in tech going head to head, Musk v. Altman has the ingredients to be the trial of the decade, but the potential impact on the AI race is uncertain. What We Know About Musk v. Altman So Far The central claim in Musk’s lawsuit is that Altman and Brockman abandoned OpenAI’s charitable mission and deceived him into investing in the company under the false pretense that the AI startup would remain a non-profit. Musk intends to return all money received to the OpenAI charity, while stripping Altman and Brockman of their positions.I reached out to OpenAI via email for comment on the lawsuit and a spokesperson responded with links to a post on X and a p...