Non-profit intentions versus commercialization reality, this lawsuit has torn open the most embarrassing cover-up in the AI industry—safety narratives and profit-driven motives. Which one is the truth? The verdict will be announced next week, but trust has already been shattered into pieces.

On May 16, Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI entered the stage of closing arguments. The plaintiffs accuse Altman and others of straying from the original non-profit mission they had founded, pushing the company toward commercialization in pursuit of profits; the defendants argue that the shift is meant to better carry out the mission, and that closed-source development is a necessary way to ensure AI safety. Both sides’ lawyers are trying to prove that they are the most well-intentioned guardians of the non-profit mission. The ruling is expected to be delivered as soon as next week; regardless of the outcome, this decade-long lawsuit has already brought reputational harm and damaged the parties’ public standing.