In a federal courtroom in Oakland, California, former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever delivered testimony that could alter the course of the ongoing legal dispute between billionaire Elon Musk and the maker of the popular chatbot. Sutskever revealed on Monday that he spent about a full year gathering evidence for the company’s board of directors proving that CEO Sam Altman exhibited a “consistent pattern of lying.”
Secret monitoring and documentation of Sam Altman’s behavior
During his testimony in the grueling legal battle, the prominent artificial intelligence researcher confirmed that he had been considering taking steps to remove Altman as CEO for at least a year prior to the board’s controversial November 2023 vote. Sutskever explained that he prepared a comprehensive 52-page document at the request of the OpenAI board of directors, detailing facts and particulars regarding Altman’s dishonesty.
Sutskever asserted that Altman’s behavior included “minimizing executives and pitting them against each other.” He added that he discussed the matter of removing Altman with then-Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati after the two had extensively discussed Altman’s behavior for a long time. Altman is expected to testify soon in the trial, specifically on Tuesday.
Sutskever emphasized during his testimony that Altman’s behavior “did not serve any grand purpose,” including the fundamental goal of developing safe artificial intelligence for humanity, which contradicts the company’s stated mission.
November firing repercussions and Sutskever’s regret
Sutskever played a key role in the dramatic events the company witnessed in November 2023, when he was a board member and helped plan Altman’s ouster. However, out of fears that the company would completely collapse, Sutskever later expressed regret for participating in the board’s actions and voted to reinstate Altman.
Since then, Altman has led the company and become the central figure in OpenAI’s battle against Musk. Sutskever noted that he avoided using the internet throughout the weekend following Altman’s ouster and was unaware of alternative plans proposed by Microsoft to absorb Altman and company employees into a new entity.
Secret merger negotiations and billion-dollar wealth
Regarding alternatives raised during the brief ouster period, Sutskever confirmed that remaining board members held meetings with rival Anthropic. The parties discussed a proposal to merge the Claude chatbot developer with OpenAI and take over its leadership. However, Sutskever stated that he “was not enthusiastic” about the idea of merging the company with another entity.
Sutskever also revealed the size of his financial stake in the company, with his shares valued at approximately $5 billion as of November 2025, jumping to around $7 billion currently. Notably, Sutskever left the company in 2024 to subsequently launch a new artificial intelligence startup named Safe Superintelligence.
Musk’s $150 billion legal battle
This testimony comes in the third week of a trial that could determine the future of the company, which raises billions from investors to build computing capacity in preparation for a potential initial public offering that could reach $1 trillion. Elon Musk, a co-founder who left the board in 2018, accuses the company and Altman of abandoning its nonprofit roots and transforming into a for-profit company to enrich themselves.
Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages from the company and its primary backer, Microsoft, with the amount to be paid to the nonprofit entity. He is also demanding the removal of Sam Altman and company president Greg Brockman from their positions. Musk stated during the first week of the trial that he was aware of early discussions about converting the company into a for-profit entity, but Altman assured him it would remain a nonprofit institution.
Earlier on Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took the witness stand, describing the tech giant’s investment in the company as a “calculated risk,” asserting that Microsoft considered its early investments worthwhile due to marketing benefits. Numerous current and former company executives, including Brockman, Murati, and Shivon Zilis, have testified in this complex trial. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers stated that closing arguments for the trial will take place on Thursday.
FAQs
Who is Ilya Sutskever?
He is the former chief scientist and a co-founder of OpenAI, and he played a pivotal role in the dramatic events that led to the firing and reinstatement of Sam Altman in November 2023.
What did the 52-page document reveal in court?
The document prepared by Sutskever over a full year revealed evidence alleging that Sam Altman exhibited a consistent pattern of lying and worked to pit executives against each other within the company.
What are Elon Musk’s demands in his lawsuit?
Elon Musk is demanding $150 billion in financial damages to be paid to the nonprofit entity, accusing the company of abandoning its humanitarian goals, and is also demanding the dismissal of Sam Altman and Greg Brockman from their positions.
Did the company try to merge with other competitors?
Yes, during Sam Altman’s brief ouster, company board members held talks with rival Anthropic to discuss merger possibilities, though Sutskever confirmed he was not enthusiastic about the idea.
