Altman and Nadella still to come: the key questions each needs to answer

As the Musk v. OpenAI trial moves into its next phase, the attention shifts from Elon Musk's version of OpenAI's founding to the testimony expected from Sam Altman and Satya Nadella. Altman needs to answer whether Musk was promised OpenAI would remain a nonprofit permanently, while Nadella needs to answer what Microsoft knew, enabled, and financially expected as OpenAI commercialized.

Claims

• ▪OpenAI's defense frames Musk's lawsuit as retaliation for losing control of OpenAI
• ▪The settlement-message dispute supports OpenAI's motive argument but may not reach the jury
• ▪Altman's testimony is expected to focus on whether OpenAI made a permanent nonprofit promise to Musk
• ▪The 2022 Microsoft investment exchange gives Altman a paper trail to explain
• ▪Internal Microsoft-OpenAI messages show Microsoft pushed for faster ChatGPT monetization after launch
• ▪Nadella's testimony is expected to center on Microsoft's knowledge and role in OpenAI's commercialization
• ▪The case could affect OpenAI's restructuring, Microsoft economics, and Musk's damages claims
• ▪Musk's role in early Microsoft introductions complicates the claim that Microsoft blindsided him