Elon Musk and Sam Altman are going to court over OpenAI’s future

MIT Technology Review / 4/28/2026

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Key Points

  • Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are set to go to trial in Northern California after a long-running legal dispute.
  • The case could determine whether OpenAI is permitted to operate as a for-profit company, with potentially far-reaching implications.
  • The trial is occurring ahead of OpenAI’s highly anticipated IPO, increasing the stakes for the company’s future structure.
  • A court ruling may force major governance or leadership changes, including potentially removing key figures.
  • The outcome is likely to affect not only OpenAI but also the broader AI industry and how future AI companies are legally structured.
After a yearslong legal feud, Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are heading to trial this week in Northern California in a case that could have sweeping consequences. Ahead of OpenAI’s highly anticipated IPO, the court could rule on whether the company is allowed to exist as a for-profit enterprise and might even oust…