Sam Altman Faces Trust Questions in High-Stakes Trial Against Elon Musk

Can you trust Sam Altman? That question dominated a high-profile trial in California this week, as Elon Musk’s legal team challenged the OpenAI CEO’s credibility and leadership during cross-examination.

Musk’s top litigator, Steven Molo, pressed Altman on his work relationships, including his temporary removal from OpenAI in 2021 by a board of directors who questioned his trustworthiness. Molo cited testimony from former OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati, who described Altman as someone who “creates chaos” by saying one thing to one person and the opposite to another.

Molo also referenced an April New Yorker investigation, where multiple sources close to Altman portrayed him as relentlessly driven by power.

Distraught text messages from Altman to Murati in 2023, begging for his job, drew comparisons to Musk’s own explosive exit from OpenAI in 2018. Musk lost a power struggle for control of the company, which Altman’s legal team now frames as retaliation in Musk’s 2024 lawsuit against OpenAI and its leadership.

Musk’s lawsuit argues that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission to return $150 billion to its original nonprofit arm. However, the trial’s focus appears less on legal facts and more on undermining Altman’s reputation.

Musk’s Legal Strategy: Undermining Altman’s Credibility

Musk’s legal team sought to expose inconsistencies in Altman’s testimony, eliciting responses like “I don’t recall” and “I can’t say how other people think.” The strategy seemed designed to make Altman appear evasive or unreliable in public settings.

During questioning, Molo asked:

Molo: “Are you completely trustworthy?”
Altman: “I believe so.”
Molo: “You don’t know whether you’re completely trustworthy?”
Altman: “I’ll just amend my answer to yes.”

The exchange highlighted the trial’s broader goal: to make the public question Altman’s honesty, regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome.

Public Skepticism Toward AI Adds Pressure

Public trust in AI—and Altman as its most visible advocate—is already fragile. A March NBC News poll found that 57% of registered voters believe the risks of AI outweigh its benefits. Altman, as the face of the industry, has faced additional scrutiny, including two separate attacks on his home within three days last month.

As closing arguments conclude and jury deliberations begin next week, the trial’s impact may extend beyond legal consequences. The reputational damage to Altman and OpenAI appears to be the most significant outcome.