In a federal court in Oakland, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, provided testimony in a lawsuit involving Sam Altman, OpenAI, and Elon Musk. He characterized Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI, which included an additional $10 billion in 2022, as a “one-way door,” emphasizing the significant decision to allocate resources away from its own artificial intelligence projects.
Nadella highlighted the strategic necessity of the partnership, stating that Microsoft could not maintain two supercomputers simultaneously, one for its own use and another for OpenAI. He acknowledged that this arrangement created a heavy reliance on OpenAI for core intellectual property development.
During the proceedings, Nadella also revealed that he opposed two potential board candidates for OpenAI: Diane Greene and Bing Gordon, citing their affiliations with competing firms. He noted that these discussions began following Altman’s brief removal as CEO of OpenAI in 2023, during which he provided input on board composition, ultimately leading to the appointment of Sue Desmond-Hellman, former CEO of the Gates Foundation.
Musk contends that Microsoft’s prioritization of its interests has undermined OpenAI’s foundational mission to create AI technology for the greater good.