Microsoft CEO Testifies as Musk's Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Altman Continues

On May 12, CNBC reported that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified in federal court in Oakland, California on Monday, participating in the ongoing lawsuit filed by Elon Musk against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Microsoft is also listed as a defendant in this lawsuit. Musk accuses Microsoft of ‘aiding and participating’ in OpenAI’s violation of its charitable trust obligations, claiming that its nonprofit mission has been diluted by a commercial path. Court documents reveal that Microsoft has continuously invested in OpenAI since 2019, with total investments exceeding $13 billion, playing a significant role as a strategic investor during OpenAI’s transition to a ‘nonprofit + for-profit structure.’ Microsoft’s $10 billion investment in OpenAI in 2023 further sparked controversy. Musk stated in court that this investment marked a critical turning point in his belief that OpenAI had deviated from its original nonprofit mission, and he accused OpenAI’s management of benefiting from the charitable structure. Meanwhile, the court proceedings also disclosed signs of recent tension in the relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft, although both parties maintain core cooperation and are making adjustments and restructuring in their model and cloud service agreements. The case is still ongoing, with disputes surrounding the governance structure and commercialization path of artificial intelligence companies continuing to escalate.