Sam Altman took the stand on Tuesday in the ongoing Musk v. Altman trial, addressing claims about leadership struggles at OpenAI. He described Elon Musk's insistence on total control and shared personal reflections on a 2023 ouster. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Thursday.
Altman recounted his reaction to being temporarily removed as CEO in 2023, saying he felt misled and considered joining Microsoft for a pure AGI research effort. He testified that the experience was painful and public, but he ultimately returned because of his commitment to OpenAI's mission. Altman noted that Musk had suggested control might pass to his children, calling the idea hair-raising.
