OpenAI and Elon Musk have moved to expedite a trial concerning OpenAI’s recent shift to a for-profit structure, intensifying an ongoing legal dispute between Musk, the wealthiest individual globally, and OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman.
According to a federal court filing made public on Friday, the billionaire and the artificial intelligence company jointly suggested a trial date in December.
In their filing to the US District Court for the Northern District of California, both parties agreed to postpone a determination on whether the cases will be resolved by a jury or through a judge alone.
This month, the presiding judge dismissed Musk’s petition to delay OpenAI’s transition to a profit-driven model but permitted an expedited trial to take place this autumn, marking another chapter in their high-profile legal battle.
“We welcome the court’s March 4 decision rejecting Elon Musk’s latest attempt to slow down OpenAI for his personal benefit,” OpenAI expressed in a blog entry on Friday.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Altman, departed the organization before its significant rise and eventually launched a rival company, xAI, in 2023.
Last year, he initiated legal action against OpenAI and Altman, claiming the organization has deviated from its original mission of developing AI for the betterment of humanity as opposed to pursuing corporate profits.
Both OpenAI and Altman have refuted these allegations, with Altman asserting that Musk is attempting to hinder a rival in the sector.
The lawsuit is pivotal for OpenAI as it navigates its transition to a for-profit entity, which the organization asserts is essential for securing additional funding and maintaining competitiveness in the costly AI sector.
OpenAI recently completed a fundraising round amounting to $6.6 billion (approximately Rs. 57,288 crore) and is currently in discussions for up to $40 billion (around Rs. 3,47,177 crore) with SoftBank Group, contingent on reshaping its structure to eliminate nonprofit oversight.
This Friday’s filing follows Altman’s firm rejection of a $97.4 billion (approximately Rs. 8,45,442 crore) unsolicited takeover proposal from a consortium led by Musk, where he responded with an unequivocal “no thank you.”
© Thomson Reuters 2025
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