Nandini Roy Chodhury, writer
The courtroom in Oakland is full this morning. There is a line outside. Reporters have been waiting since before dawn.
The courtroom drama is now entering its decisive stage.
Testimony ends tomorrow. Closing arguments happen the day after. Then on Monday May 18, the jury begins deliberating on the most consequential tech lawsuit in a generation. Three years of accusations, leaked emails and live drama are about to come down to nine ordinary people in a room.
May 12, 2026 • techsunnews.com • Live update • Sources: CNBC, Bloomberg, Local News Matters, Fortune
VERDICT TIMELINE — What happens and when
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| May 12 | Today — Altman on stand. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella already testified. House Oversight Committee sent Altman a letter about conflicts of interest. |
| May 13 | Testimony ends. Final witnesses complete. Court goes dark Friday. |
| May 14 | Closing arguments — Musk’s team then OpenAI’s team make their final case to the jury. |
| May 18 | Jury deliberations begin. Judge also begins damages hearing simultaneously. |
| Verdict | Advisory verdict from jury — then Judge Rogers decides remedies. She has said she will likely follow the jury’s lead. |
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What happened in court today
Sam Altman is on the witness stand right now. Outside, a crowd of reporters is still filing through security as of this morning. This is the most-watched day of the entire trial.
Earlier, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella became one of the most significant witnesses of the trial. Nadella testified that Musk never once contacted him with concerns that Microsoft’s $13 billion investment in OpenAI violated any special terms or commitments. He said he was “very proud” that Microsoft backed OpenAI when, in his words, “no one else was willing” to bet on the fledgling lab.
That testimony directly challenged Musk’s core argument. Because Musk’s core argument is that everyone involved knew OpenAI was supposed to stay a non-profit. But the CEO of its biggest investor just said under oath that he had no such understanding, and that Musk never raised it with him.
💭 The House Oversight Committee also sent Altman a letter Friday asking about conflicts of interest between him and Brockman. That letter arriving during verdict week is not a coincidence. Washington is watching.
What the jury has to decide
If you want the full background on how we got here, read our full explainer on the OpenAI trial. The short version: Musk is claiming that when he co-founded OpenAI in 2015, he and Altman agreed it would stay a non-profit charity forever. OpenAI says no such binding agreement exists. The jury has to decide who is telling the truth.
There is one crucial thing most people do not know: the jury’s verdict is advisory, not binding. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers does not have to follow it. But she has told the lawyers she is likely to follow the jury’s lead. So the verdict still matters enormously.
Several legal analysts interviewed by Bloomberg and Fortune described Musk’s case as an uphill battle.
But if the jury somehow finds in Musk’s favour, the judge could order OpenAI to return to its nonprofit structure, disgorge up to $109 billion in gains, and halt its IPO plans. That is the scenario Wall Street has been quietly pricing in all month.
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What both sides said in their final week
Bloomberg summarised the mood after Week 2: “Both Musk and Altman took a beating over their leadership styles.” Jurors heard that Musk lacked technical competency to oversee AI development and had a hot temper. They also heard that Altman navigated a complex restructuring in ways that personally enriched himself and colleagues.
We covered the full drama of Week 2 in our Brockman testifies update — including the bombshell that Musk secretly texted Brockman to explore a settlement two days before the trial began, then threatened him when Brockman declined. “You will be the most hated man in America,” Musk wrote.
And we covered Musk’s own testimony in Week 1 — including his viral line “You can’t just steal a charity” and his stunning admission that xAI uses OpenAI’s own models to train Grok. Both sides gave the jury a lot to think about.
💭 Nine people who probably use ChatGPT on their phones will decide the fate of the company that built it. That is a strange and genuinely interesting thing about this trial.
| ALL TECHSUNNEWS.COM OPENAI TRIAL COVERAGE
→ Musk vs Altman: The Full Trial Explainer — $134 Billion at Stake What the case is about, what Musk wants, what happens if he wins → Week 1 Recap: 5 Biggest Moments from the OpenAI Trial The lumberjack story, the judge’s scolding, “You are my hero” email → Altman Takes the Stand — “You Can’t Steal a Charity” Musk’s viral line and the xAI distilling bombshell → Week 2: Musk Tried to Settle — Then Threatened Brockman The secret settlement text and Brockman’s testimony |
WHAT DO YOU THINK? THE JURY DELIBERATES FROM MAY 18. DO YOU THINK MUSK WILL WIN OR LOSE — AND DOES IT EVEN MATTER? DROP YOUR VERDICT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! 👇
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does the OpenAI trial jury deliberate?
Witness testimony ends May 13, 2026. Closing arguments are scheduled for May 14. The jury is expected to begin deliberating on Monday May 18. The jury’s verdict is advisory — Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has the final say on remedies but has indicated she is likely to follow the jury’s recommendation.
What did Satya Nadella say at the OpenAI trial?
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified on May 11, 2026. He said Musk never contacted him with concerns that Microsoft’s investments in OpenAI violated any special charitable commitments. He said he was “very proud” that Microsoft backed OpenAI when no one else was willing to. He also discussed the period in late 2023 when Altman was briefly removed and reinstated as CEO.
What happens if Musk wins the OpenAI trial?
If the jury finds in Musk’s favour, Judge Rogers would decide on remedies. Musk is asking for up to $109 billion to be disgorged from OpenAI and its investors, returned to the nonprofit. He also wants injunctions forcing OpenAI to operate according to its original charitable mission. This would effectively halt OpenAI’s IPO plans and could force a structural reversal of its for-profit conversion. Most legal analysts consider this outcome unlikely.
SOURCES — 6 verified portals
1. CNBC — OpenAI trial live updates: Nadella testifies, Altman set to take stand (May 12, 2026)
3. Bloomberg — OpenAI Trial: Both Musk and Altman took a beating over leadership styles (May 8, 2026)
4. Fortune — The Musk-OpenAI trial is producing more heat than light (May 5, 2026)
5. techsunnews.com — Musk vs Altman: The OpenAI Trial Explained — $134 Billion at Stake
6. techsunnews.com — Week 2: Musk Tried to Settle, Then Threatened Brockman
| DISCLAIMER: This article is based on 6 verified sources and live CNBC coverage as of May 12, 2026. The trial is ongoing — Altman’s testimony and the jury timeline may change. The jury’s verdict is advisory only; Judge Rogers has final authority. This article does not constitute legal or investment advice. |
