Nandini Roy Choudhury, writer
Published: May 18, 2026 | By TechSun News Desk | Category: Tech News
The biggest tech trial of 2026 is now in the jury’s hands. After weeks of courtroom drama, leaked texts, and some genuinely wild accusations, the Musk vs Altman trial has reached the deliberation stage.
A nine-member jury is now weighing whether OpenAI violated the principles Musk says the company was founded on.
Whatever they decide, the outcome could shake up the entire AI industry.
So What Is This Trial Actually About?
Back in 2015, Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI alongside Sam Altman and Greg Brockman. The idea was simple — build artificial intelligence that benefits all of humanity, not just investors.
Musk put in around $38 million to help get it started.
Then in 2019, OpenAI quietly shifted to a for-profit structure. Microsoft came in with billions of dollars. The company is now valued at around $850 billion and is eyeing an IPO worth close to $1 trillion.
Musk says he was cheated. He calls what happened “stealing a charity.”
Altman says Musk knew exactly what was going on — and only filed this lawsuit after he launched his own competing AI company, xAI.
What Actually Happened Inside the Courtroom?
This trial ran for 11 days. More than 20 witnesses took the stand — including Musk himself, Altman, Brockman, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Here are the moments everyone’s talking about:
The Bridge Metaphor: Musk’s lawyer asked jurors to imagine walking across a wooden bridge 150 feet above a river — built on “Sam Altman’s version of the truth.” Would you cross it? It was theatrical, but it clearly stuck with people.
Altman Fires Back: He told the jury that in 2017, Musk actually suggested control of OpenAI should pass to his children if he died. Altman painted Musk as someone who wanted to own and control AGI — not protect it.
The Golden Donkey Trophy: Yes, this really happened. OpenAI brought a golden trophy of a donkey’s backside into court. It was given to an employee who stood up to Musk’s push to rush toward AGI. Make of that what you will.
Former Insiders Sided Against Altman: Multiple ex-OpenAI executives — including Ilya Sutskever and Mira Murati — said Altman lied to them. That’s the same reason he was briefly fired as CEO in 2023.
What Does Musk Actually Want?
Musk isn’t just chasing money. He’s asking the court for three big things:
- Remove Sam Altman and Greg Brockman from their leadership roles at OpenAI
- Unwind the 2025 restructuring that converted OpenAI into a public benefit corporation
- Send up to $134 billion in “wrongful gains” back to OpenAI’s nonprofit
That last point is massive. If the judge agrees, OpenAI’s entire IPO plan could collapse.
Is the Jury’s Decision Final?
Not exactly. This nine-person jury gives what’s called an advisory verdict. That means Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers still makes the final call on liability.
The jury is six women and three men. Judge Gonzalez Rogers has been strict with lawyers throughout — at one point telling a lawyer, “You do not want to be held in contempt, I guarantee you.” But she’s been warm and friendly with jurors, even bringing them chocolates.
The second phase of the trial — where damages are decided — is running at the same time as deliberations. So the courtroom stays busy either way.
What Are the Odds?
Before the trial started, prediction markets put Musk’s chances of winning at around 35%. That’s not hopeless, but it shows most people expected OpenAI to come out ahead.
Interestingly, an AI analysis — from Claude, a competing AI — said the case comes down to one key question: did Musk’s $38 million donation come with specific enforceable conditions, or was it just a general charitable gift?
If jurors believe a real “charitable trust” existed, Musk wins. If not, OpenAI walks free.
⚡ Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
| 📍 Court | Federal Court, Oakland, California |
| 👨⚖️ Judge | Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers |
| 👥 Jury | 9 members (advisory verdict only) |
| 💰 Musk’s Donation | $38 million to OpenAI |
| 💸 Damages Sought | Up to $134 billion |
| 📈 OpenAI Valuation | ~$850 billion |
| 📅 Deliberations Started | Monday, May 18, 2026 |
| ⚖️ Claims | Breach of charitable trust & unjust enrichment |
Why This Matters for the AI Industry
This isn’t just about two billionaires fighting in court. The ripple effects could be enormous.
If Musk wins: OpenAI may be forced to restructure again, its IPO could be blocked or delayed, and Musk’s xAI gets a massive competitive advantage. It also sets a legal precedent that AI companies must honor their founding missions.
If Altman wins: For-profit pivots in tech are legally safe, OpenAI can move ahead with its near-$1 trillion IPO, and Musk’s strategy of suing competitors gets exposed as a dead end.
Meanwhile, Musk’s own xAI is reportedly heading for a public listing through SpaceX — targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation as early as June 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
❓ Why did Elon Musk sue OpenAI?
Musk claims OpenAI betrayed its founding mission to build AI for humanity’s benefit. He says it became a for-profit company that enriched insiders — including Altman and Microsoft — at his expense after he donated $38 million.
❓ What is Musk asking for in the lawsuit?
He wants Altman and Brockman removed from OpenAI, the company’s for-profit restructuring reversed, and up to $134 billion sent back to OpenAI’s nonprofit foundation.
❓ Is the jury verdict the final decision?
No. The jury gives an advisory verdict. The final decision on liability rests with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers. The jury does not weigh in on damages.
❓ What happens to OpenAI if Musk wins?
OpenAI’s path to an IPO could be completely blocked or delayed. Its for-profit structure could be dismantled. It would be a massive legal and financial blow to one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.
❓ When will the verdict come?
Jury deliberations started Monday, May 18, 2026. A verdict could come any day this week. The remedies phase is running at the same time.
❓ Does this affect regular people using ChatGPT?
In the short term, probably not. But if OpenAI is forced to restructure, it could slow down product development, affect pricing, and change how the company operates for millions of users globally.
💬 We Want to Hear From You!
This is one of the biggest legal battles in tech history — and everyone has an opinion.
Question 1: Do you think Elon Musk was genuinely betrayed by OpenAI, or is this just about killing the competition? Drop your answer in the comments below! 👇
Question 2: If you use ChatGPT regularly — would you switch to xAI’s Grok if Musk wins this case? Tell us why or why not!
Question 3: Should AI companies be legally required to stick to their founding mission? We’d love to know what you think.
Share this article with someone who follows tech news — this verdict is going to be big. 🔥
📚 More Stories on TechSun News
📌 Our Full Trial Coverage — Read From the Beginning:
🔗 🔴 Week 1: OpenAI Trial Begins — Elon Musk vs Sam Altman
🔗 🔴 Week 1 Recap: Musk vs Altman OpenAI Trial — Everything That Happened
🔗 🔴 Week 2: Altman Testifies — Did Musk Try to “Steal the Charity”?
🔗 🔴 Week 2: Musk Settlement Talks & Brockman Testifies
🔗 🔴 Verdict Week: Jury Now Deliberating — Musk vs Altman May 2026
📌 Related Tech Stories:
🔗 The AI Chip War Between Nvidia and Cerebras — Who’s Winning in 2026?
🔗 OpenAI’s $1 Trillion Valuation — Is It Real or Just Hype?
🔗 Elon Musk’s xAI and SpaceX IPO Plans Explained
🔗 Google and SpaceX Plan Orbital Data Centers — The Future of AI is in Space
🔗 100,000 Tech Jobs Lost in 2026 — Is AI Really Replacing Workers?
⚠️ Note to Editor: Update this article immediately when the jury verdict drops. Add verdict details at the top as a BREAKING NEWS banner. Request re-indexing in GSC right after publishing.
TechSun News | techsunnews.com | Published: May 18, 2026
