Judge in OpenAI trial keeps Elon in check | Latest Tech News
OAKLAND, Calif. — The choose working the bombshell trial over the future of OpenAI has apparently had it with Elon Musk’s favourite line of the last three days – “You just can’t steal from a charity” – at one level reminding Musk that he was “not a lawyer.”
“We’ve heard that often,” US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers told the tech titan, drawing some snickers from the packed courtroom. She struck the phrase from the file and told Musk to “Please try to respond to the specific questions.”
Musk has repeatedly recited variations of the phrase while being hammered by artificial-intelligence giant OpenAI’s lawyer William Savitt during cross-examination, which continued into its second day on Thursday.
Elon Musk arrives to court at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on April 30, 2026 in Oakland, California. Getty Images
After Musk retook the stand, Savitt went straight to needling Musk on a time period sheet doc that laid out OpenAI’s company founding that appeared to show the for-profit entity was well-documented. Musk’s lawsuit alleges that OpenAI betrayed its altruistic mission in pursuit of revenue.
Meanwhile, Musk acknowledged there was no written contract with OpenAI detailing the phrases of his donation to the company to get OpenAI off the ground as a nonprofit research group.
CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman arrives at court, on April 30, 2026. REUTERS
Savitt lambasted Musk’s repeated claims that he hadn’t read the full time period sheet doc – before Musk fell back on his quip that stealing from a charity wasn’t okay.
Later, Musk accused Savitt of not only asking a main query but offering a main reply to his main query.
Rogers interrupted. “You’re not a lawyer, Mr. Musk,” Rogers said.
“Well, I’ve technically taken lawyer 101,” Musk joked smirking, eliciting some laughs from the courtroom including Altman’s legal staff.
Musk then acknowledged “I’m not a lawyer.”
Elon Musk is questioned by Russell Cohen, a lawyer for Microsoft, on April 30, 2026. REUTERS
Lawyers kicked off the day’s proceedings squabbling over how a lot AI security could possibly be raised in entrance of the jury – again main Rogers to step in.
“We all could die from artificial intelligence,” Musk’s attorney Steven Molo.
OpenAI’s lawyer began to butt in.
“Both of you stop,” the choose said. “We don’t need to have this whole thing explode in this courtroom in this way.” This is just not a trial of the security dangers of artificial intelligence. We are usually not going to get sidetracked on that issue.”
At one level, Musk referred to a worst case state of affairs where AI creates a “terminator situation.”
Musk’s attorney Steven Molo requested Musk what he meant by a “terminator situation.”
Musk: “We’ve all seen the movie,” Musk deadpanned. “It’s not a good situation.”
OpenAI attorneys Sarah Eddy and William Savitt arrive at court on Thursday. REUTERS
Musk also said xAI, in developing its own fashions, has “partly” distilled some of OpenAI’s technology by a course of identified as “distillation,” which takes one AI tech and makes use of it to create another.
Savitt requested Musk if xAI “distilled” technology from OpenAI. OpenAI’s phrases of service doesn’t permit distillation of the company’s systems. AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic have raised warnings that Chinese corporations are distilling their technology.
“Generally AI companies distill other AI companies,” Musk said.
“Is that a ‘yes’?” Savitt requested. Musk answered, “Partly.”
Musk is in search of $180 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, pledging to donate any proceeds from a court victory to OpenAI’s charitable arm. He is also asking the court to restore OpenAI’s nonprofit standing and take away Altman and Brockman from management roles.
Musk in court yesterday said that he was a “fool” to trust Sam Altman with the future of OpenAI – “I was a fool who provided them free funding to create a startup,” Musk said. “I gave them $38 million of essentially free funding to create what would become an $800 billion company.”
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