Nandini Roy Choudhury, writer
● TRIAL UPDATE
TECH • AI • LEGAL • OPENAI TRIAL WEEK 2
Week 1 of the Musk v. Altman OpenAI trial ended with Musk’s most memorable line — “You can’t just steal a charity” — and a bombshell admission that his own AI company, xAI, uses OpenAI’s models to train Grok. Now Sam Altman takes the witness stand in Oakland for Week 2. Here’s everything that happened — and what Altman will say today.
May 4, 2026 • By World Affairs Desk, techsunnews.com • 4 min read • Sources: CNN, CNBC, MIT Technology Review, The Ringer
WEEK 1 RECAP — 5 THINGS MUSK SAID THAT SHOCKED THE COURTROOM
|
[AD UNIT 1 — Place in-article ad here]
| CATCH UP ON THE FULL STORY
→ Musk vs Altman: The OpenAI Trial Begins — $134 Billion and AI’s Future at Stake Our full explainer: what the case is about, what Musk wants, and what happens if he wins → Musk vs Altman Week 1 Recap: 5 Biggest Moments from the OpenAI Trial The lumberjack story, the judge’s scolding, the Terminator quote and the “You are my hero” email |
Week 1 of the Musk v. Altman trial delivered more drama than most legal proceedings manage in a full month. Musk spent three days on the stand in a crisp black suit, oscillating between moments of genuine passion and courtroom comedy. He called himself a “fool” for funding OpenAI. He warned AI “could also kill us all.” He sparred with OpenAI’s lawyer Savitt so relentlessly that the judge had to intervene twice. He dropped the line that has since gone viral across every tech platform: “You can’t just steal a charity.” And then, in what may prove to be the most legally damaging moment of his own testimony, he admitted that xAI — his AI company directly competing with OpenAI — uses OpenAI’s models to train its Grok chatbot. There were audible gasps in the courtroom.
“I gave them $38 million of essentially free funding, which they then used to create what would become an $800 billion company.”
— Elon Musk, testimony, OpenAI trial Week 1, April 2026
What Altman will say today — Week 2 preview
Sam Altman takes the witness stand today in Oakland. His lawyers have telegraphed the strategy clearly. Altman will argue that:
- Musk knew about and supported the for-profit conversion — there are emails to prove it
- Musk tried to seize personal control of OpenAI — and left when the board refused
- The lawsuit is driven not by principle but by commercial rivalry — Musk wants to slow down a competitor to his own xAI
- OpenAI’s attorney Savitt argued in opening: Musk “supported a for-profit, so long as he was in control.” When he wasn’t given control, he left — and then sued
Altman will also face the “You are my hero” email he sent Musk in 2023 — already shown during Week 1. And he will have to address the most awkward fact of the trial: while he was supposed to be in court for Week 1, he was instead making a virtual appearance at an Amazon Web Services event, saying “I wish I could be there with you in person today.” Today he has no choice. The court requires his physical presence.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? MUSK SAYS “YOU CAN’T JUST STEAL A CHARITY” — BUT OPENAI SAYS MUSK LEFT BECAUSE HE COULDN’T GET CONTROL. WHO DO YOU BELIEVE? DROP YOUR VERDICT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇
[AD UNIT 2 — Place ad before sources]
SOURCES — 5 verified portals
1. CNN Business — Takeaways from day 1: Musk says pair conspired to ‘steal a charity’ (April 29, 2026)
2. CNBC — OpenAI trial Day 4 live updates: Musk concludes testimony (April 30, 2026)
3. CNBC — OpenAI trial Day 2 live updates: Musk opening testimony (April 28, 2026)
5. The Ringer — Elon Musk’s OpenAI Trial Testimony: Annotated (April 30, 2026)
| DISCLAIMER: This article is based on 5 verified global sources as of May 4, 2026. The trial is ongoing — Altman’s testimony begins today and will be updated as proceedings unfold. All Musk quotes are from verified court testimony. This article does not constitute legal or investment advice. |
