Musk texted OpenAI's Brockman about settlement two days before trial began

In a dramatic turn of events just two days prior to the start of his billion-dollar lawsuit against OpenAI, Elon Musk reached out to the company's president, Greg Brockman, to discuss a potential settlement. According to a court filing made public on Sunday, Musk's text followed Brockman's suggestion that both parties drop their claims. Musk's response was pointed: 'By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so it will be,' he warned. This lawsuit, initiated by Musk in 2024, accuses OpenAI, Brockman, and CEO Sam Altman of abandoning their commitment to operate as a nonprofit and adhere to their charitable mission. The trial commenced in federal court in Oakland, California, last month, with Brockman potentially set to testify as early as Monday. OpenAI's legal team has sought to introduce Musk's text messages as evidence, arguing they demonstrate his motives and biases, particularly that his lawsuit is an attack on a competitor and its leaders. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, took the stand last week, dominating the initial phase of the trial with his testimony. Over three days, he detailed his role in establishing OpenAI while accusing Altman and Brockman of attempting to 'steal a charity.' Musk also discussed his own AI venture, xAI, which he launched five years after stepping down from OpenAI's board in 2018. In February, Musk's xAI merged with SpaceX in a deal that valued the startup at an astounding $250 billion. Following Musk's exit from the board, OpenAI shifted towards commercialization, creating a for-profit subsidiary in 2018. This move paid off significantly after the introduction of ChatGPT in late 2022, propelling OpenAI's valuation to over $850 billion among private investors. Musk claims that the $38 million he contributed to OpenAI in its formative years was misused for commercial endeavors. He stated in court that the for-profit division had become 'the tail wagging the dog.' OpenAI, however, has dismissed Musk's allegations as unfounded. The presiding Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will continue overseeing the trial, with proceedings scheduled to resume at 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday.