A jury in Oakland determined that Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Microsoft was untimely, ruling unanimously against Musk on all claims after a brief deliberation period. The trial, which lasted three weeks, featured testimonies from notable technology leaders, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI co-founders.
The nine jurors concluded that Musk did not file his allegations regarding breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment within the appropriate timeframe. They also dismissed his assertion that Microsoft had aided in this breach. This verdict concludes a case that Musk initiated in 2024, arguing that OpenAI had shifted from its original nonprofit mission.
Following the jury's findings, Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, indicated that an appeal might be forthcoming, although no decision had been made yet. Microsoft welcomed the jury's verdict, emphasizing the clarity of the facts and their ongoing partnership with OpenAI, which has received over $13 billion from Microsoft since 2019. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will ultimately decide on the final liability based on the advisory jury verdict.