Greg Brockman testifies Musk sought OpenAI control for Mars colonization
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 5
Greg Brockman testifies Musk sought OpenAI control for Mars colonization
14 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 5
At the Oakland federal trial, Brockman said Musk wanted $80 billion and a majority stake in 2017, while OpenAI plans to spend $50 billion on computing in 2026.
Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages for OpenAI's nonprofit and the removal of Brockman and chief executive Sam Altman over the company's for-profit conversion.
The case could shape OpenAI's future as it pursues massive fundraising after raising more than $100 billion, with both OpenAI and Musk-linked SpaceX seen as potential IPO candidates.
As OpenAI eyes a $1 trillion IPO, did it sacrifice its promise to humanity for profit?
Is Musk's lawsuit a power play to control his biggest AI rival, or a genuine fight for OpenAI's soul?
The $150 Billion Musk vs. OpenAI Trial: AI Governance, SpaceX Funding, and Corporate Control at Stake
Overview
The 2026 trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI exposes a fierce clash over AI's future and control. Musk, who helped found OpenAI as a nonprofit in 2015, pushed in 2017 to turn it into a for-profit under his control to fund his Mars colonization plans via SpaceX. The OpenAI board rejected this, leading to Musk's departure and later condemnation of OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft and its capped-profit model. Musk's $150 billion lawsuit demands leadership removal and a return to nonprofit status, framing the case as a moral fight over AI safety. Meanwhile, OpenAI's soaring valuation and Microsoft’s deep involvement highlight the high financial stakes, with the trial's outcome poised to reshape AI governance, investment, and Musk’s space ambitions.