Court Filing: Musk Reached Out to OpenAI for Settlement Ahead of Oakland Trial

Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk made a last-minute attempt to settle his high-stakes legal dispute with OpenAI just days before their courtroom showdown in California, according to newly revealed court documents.

Filings show that Musk contacted OpenAI president Greg Brockman approximately two days before the trial began in Oakland, seeking to “gauge interest” in a potential settlement.

The outreach came shortly before jury selection commenced in late April, in what has become one of the most closely watched legal battles in the tech industry. However, the attempt did not result in an agreement, and the case proceeded to trial.

According to the filing, Brockman proposed that both sides drop their claims, but Musk responded with a warning, suggesting that Brockman and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman could face significant public backlash if the case moved forward.

The lawsuit, originally filed by Musk, centers on allegations that OpenAI deviated from its founding mission as a nonprofit organization by transitioning into a for-profit structure. Musk argues that this shift violated the principles under which he supported and funded the company, and he is seeking sweeping changes, including leadership restructuring and massive financial damages.

The trial, currently underway in a federal court in Oakland under Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, is expected to run for several weeks and feature testimony from key figures in the tech world, including executives from OpenAI and its major backer, Microsoft.

The case has drawn global attention, not only for the personalities involved but also for its potential implications on the governance and commercialization of artificial intelligence.