马斯克诉奥特曼案审判第一周：庭审现场实录
内容总结：
马斯克诉奥特曼案庭审首周纪实：法庭交锋激烈，AI安全成焦点
加州奥克兰消息——人工智能领域两大巨头埃隆·马斯克与山姆·奥特曼的对决上周在联邦法庭正式拉开帷幕。马斯克起诉OpenAI，指控其违反慈善信托义务，将十年前他投入数百万美元资助的非营利项目转变为营利性公司。此案不仅关乎OpenAI的未来走向，更因AI安全议题的升温而备受瞩目。
庭审焦点：马斯克是否被欺骗？
案件核心在于马斯克是否在2015年与奥特曼及OpenAI总裁格雷格·布罗克曼共同创立公司时，就已同意其设立营利性分支。马斯克声称，他直到2022年才意识到OpenAI背离了最初的慈善使命，感觉自己“被骗了”。而OpenAI则辩称，马斯克当时明知AI研发成本高昂，同意公司设立营利部门。由于涉及慈善信托诉讼的时效限制（发现不当行为后3-4年内需提起诉讼），马斯克能否证明其2022年才“恍然大悟”成为关键。
庭审现场：戏剧性瞬间频现
马斯克的律师在庭上声称“我们都可能因AI而死”，令在场人员震惊。法官随即严厉打断，指出马斯克本人也在创办同领域的AI公司，“很多人同样不愿将人类未来交到马斯克手中”。法官强调，本案核心并非“AI是否危害人类”，但庭审已不可避免地演变为对AI安全及实验室研发实践的广泛讨论。
马斯克本人表现：冷静、机智但偶有慌乱
马斯克身着笔挺黑西装出庭，表现冷静、沉着，甚至与律师、对手及法官开玩笑。当OpenAI律师诱导式提问时，他犀利回应：“这不是引导性问题，是引导性答案。”法官提醒他并非律师，马斯克笑称：“我上过《法律101》课程。”然而，面对对方律师尖锐的盘问，他仍会显得局促不安。
重要新发现：xAI涉嫌“蒸馏”OpenAI模型
庭审第四天，马斯克在交叉质询中承认，其创立的xAI公司正在“蒸馏”OpenAI的模型来训练自己的AI。他辩称这是业内标准做法，但这一爆料令在场记者迅速记录，可能引发新的争议。
科技巨头幕后博弈曝光
庭审还揭示了科技巨头间的复杂算计。马斯克与Meta CEO马克·扎克伯格的短信显示，两人曾试图联手阻止OpenAI重组，甚至计划竞购OpenAI非营利部分的所有资产。这种高层间的“合纵连横”令人咋舌。
下周庭审预告
OpenAI总裁布罗克曼（庭上一直认真记录马斯克证词）及UC伯克利计算机科学家斯图尔特·罗素将出庭，后者将就AI安全作证。预计前OpenAI首席科学家伊利亚·苏茨克维、前CTO米拉·穆拉蒂及微软CEO萨提亚·纳德拉等重量级人物也将陆续作证。
该案预计持续三周，九人陪审团将给出建议性裁决，最终由法官决定OpenAI是否承担责任及相应补救措施。马斯克要求阻止OpenAI重组，并索赔巨额损失。
中文翻译：
马斯克诉奥特曼案庭审第一周：法庭内真实记录
从埃隆·马斯克的证词中我们了解到什么，以及本周可以期待什么。
本文原载于《算法》——我们关于人工智能的每周通讯。如需第一时间在收件箱中收到此类文章，请在此处订阅。
上周，人工智能领域最具影响力的两位人物——山姆·奥特曼和埃隆·马斯克——在加利福尼亚州奥克兰的法庭上正式展开对峙。马斯克起诉OpenAI，声称他大约十年前投入的数百万美元资金本应用于非营利组织，而非一家营利性公司，并且该公司此后背离了这一使命。
此案利害关系重大——即便马斯克只是部分胜诉，也可能令OpenAI受挫，因为据报道该公司计划在今年上市。但大部分关注度源自这场在X平台上的恩怨如今在联邦法庭上演的场面。“预计那些令人尴尬的短信、原始的日记条目，以及OpenAI创立和发展背后无尽的算计将被公之于众，”我的同事米歇尔·金在庭审开始前写道。而这场审判正值公众对人工智能的文化反弹日益加剧之际；法院外抗议者举着的标语牌表明，对相当多的人来说，无论马斯克诉奥特曼案结果如何，我们都是输家。
我们大多数人只能远远观望这场审判，但恰好也是一名律师的米歇尔每天都待在法庭里。我联系了她，了解迄今为止的情况以及接下来可能发生什么。
你能概述一下这起案件究竟是关于什么的吗？到底要裁决什么，目前谁更占优势？
埃隆·马斯克主张，山姆·奥特曼和OpenAI总裁格雷格·布罗克曼通过实质上将OpenAI转变为一家营利性公司，违反了该公司的慈善信托义务。马斯克声称，这与公司在早期向他们承诺的截然不同。他要求多项补救措施，比如巨额赔偿以及罢免山姆·奥特曼。但他主要想要的补救措施是撤销OpenAI的重组计划。[2025年10月，OpenAI与加利福尼亚州和特拉华州的总检察长达成协议，该协议实质上允许其非营利部分对OpenAI的日常控制权有所减少。这是OpenAI最初提议的一种折中方案，但马斯克仍想阻止它。]
OpenAI辩称，埃隆·马斯克实际上曾同意该公司运营一个营利性分支，因为他知道开发人工智能非常昂贵。因此，案件的关键在于证明马斯克知道什么、不知道什么，以及他是否真的被奥特曼和布罗克曼欺骗了。
关于马斯克究竟何时发现这一所谓不当行为，存在巨大争议。马斯克于2015年与奥特曼和布罗克曼共同创立了OpenAI，并于2024年提起诉讼。慈善信托索赔有诉讼时效；你需要在发现所谓不当行为后的三到四年内提出索赔。因此，马斯克试图描绘出这样一幅图景：当年他确实有些怀疑，但真正意识到OpenAI不再致力于其最初的慈善使命、自己被骗，是在2022年。目前只是庭审的第一周，但我不确定马斯克是否已向法官和陪审团证明了这一点。
到目前为止，有哪些突出的时刻？
有一次，埃隆·马斯克的一位律师说：“我们都有可能因人工智能而死。”我想当时房间里很多人都被这句话深深震撼了，法官对马斯克的律师说：你谈论OpenAI在构建人工智能时带来的所有这些安全风险，但马斯克也在创建一个完全处于同一领域的公司。她基本上是在说，我敢肯定，也有很多人不想把人类的未来交到埃隆·马斯克手中。
随后，律师们就人工智能的灾难性风险以及埃隆·马斯克还是OpenAI谁更适合引导人工智能安全问题争论不休。法官有点失去耐心了。她非常严厉地说，这场审判与人工智能是否损害了人类无关。我认为这是庭审中一个非常引人注目的时刻，它表明，尽管从技术上讲，此案只关乎埃隆·马斯克是否真的被OpenAI欺骗，但它也已变成一场关于人工智能安全以及实验室在构建人工智能时采用的一些做法的大讨论。
你能带我们了解一下进入这场庭审的过程吗？
现场有大量记者。这是一起备受关注的诉讼，所以我必须在大约凌晨4:30起床，早上6点准时到奥克兰法院门口排队。有些日子，即使早上6点到也进不了法庭。法院前有很多摄影师，尤其是在知道马斯克或奥特曼和布罗克曼会出现的日子里。还有一些关心此案的市民想旁听庭审。我通常要排队大约两个小时才能进去，成为抢占法庭内30个非预留座位的幸运者之一。
看到埃隆·马斯克作证是什么感觉？你会如何描述他的举止？
他穿着一身笔挺的黑色西装出现。在X平台上，他可能是个容易激动的人，但在法庭上，他冷静、沉着、镇定，看起来非常自在。他经历过很多诉讼。他知道如何与陪审团交谈，以及如何在陪审团和法官面前表现自己。他还会和律师，甚至对方律师和法官开玩笑。
他还很机智。有一次，OpenAI的律师向马斯克提问，并有点像是在给他提供答案。马斯克说：“那不是诱导性问题，那是诱导性答案。”法官介入说：“你不是律师，埃隆。”然后他回答说：“嗯，我确实上过法律101课程。”
话虽如此，当OpenAI的律师提出尖锐、切中要害的问题时，他确实会变得慌乱和不自在。而对方律师一直在这么做。
在本案早期阶段不明确的情况下，我们现在了解到的最大事情是什么？
在庭审的第四天，马斯克在交叉质证中承认，xAI提取OpenAI的模型来训练自己的模型，这令人震惊。马斯克随后补充说，这是现在所有实验室的标准做法，xAI并没有做其他实验室没在做的事情。但马斯克刚说完这句话，很多记者就开始在笔记本电脑上飞快打字。
我还了解到，大型科技公司高管之间充满了算计。你对此隐约有所了解，但亲耳听到当事人的叙述并阅读他们的电子邮件和短信，令人着迷。
例如，有一条马斯克与Meta的马克·扎克伯格之间的短信，他们在短信中联手阻止OpenAI的重组。他们甚至试图出价购买OpenAI非营利部分的所有资产。这些高管之间的算计程度令人瞠目结舌。
接下来会发生什么？
OpenAI的总裁格雷格·布罗克曼在埃隆·马斯克作证期间一直在仔细记笔记，预计他将在下周作证。加州大学伯克利分校的计算机科学家斯图尔特·罗素将就人工智能安全问题作证。我预计这将为关于谁能被信任来构建人工智能的疯狂讨论打开闸门。
其他一些知名人士预计也将作证，比如OpenAI前首席科学家伊利亚·苏茨克弗、前首席技术官米拉·穆拉蒂，以及微软首席执行官萨提亚·纳德拉。
审判预计将持续大约三周。九名陪审员将给出咨询性裁决，以指导法官如何就马斯克对OpenAI的索赔做出判决。法官不必听从陪审团的意见，可以自行决定。如果她判定OpenAI负有责任，那么她将决定何种补救措施是适当的。
《麻省理工科技评论》将对马斯克诉奥特曼案进行持续报道，直至结案。请在X平台上关注@techreview或@michelletomkim获取实时报道。
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Week one of the Musk v. Altman trial: What it was like in the room
Here’s what we learned from Elon Musk’s testimony, and what to expect this week.
This story originally appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. To get stories like this in your inbox first, sign up here.
Two of the most powerful people in AI—Sam Altman and Elon Musk—began their face-off in court in Oakland, California, last week. Musk is suing OpenAI, alleging that the millions he spent to fund it around a decade ago were meant for a nonprofit, not a corporation, and that the company has reneged on that mission since.
The stakes are high—even a partial win for Musk could set OpenAI back as it reportedly plans to go public this year. But most of the attention comes from the spectacle of a feud on X now playing out in federal court. “Cringey texts, raw diary entries, and endless scheming behind the founding and growth of OpenAI are expected to come to light,” my colleague Michelle Kim wrote before it began. And the trial unfolds as the cultural backlash against AI swells; some of the signs held by protesters outside the courthouse suggest that to a significant number of people, whatever the outcome of Musk v. Altman, we all lose.
Most of us have had to observe the trial from afar, but Michelle, who also happens to be a lawyer, has been in court each day. I caught up with her to learn what’s unfolded thus far and what might come next.
Can you give us the overview of what this case is actually about? What exactly is being decided, and who is favored right now?
Elon Musk is arguing that Sam Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman have breached the company’s charitable trust by effectively converting OpenAI into a for-profit company. Musk alleges that is not what they promised him in the company’s early days. He has asked for several remedies, like a crazy amount of damages and removing Sam Altman. But the main remedy he wants is unwinding OpenAI’s restructuring. [In October 2025 OpenAI struck deals with the attorneys general of California and Delaware that would essentially allow its nonprofit portion to have less day-to-day control of OpenAI. It’s a compromise from what OpenAI originally proposed, but Musk still wants to stop it.]
OpenAI argues that Elon Musk actually agreed to have the company operate a for-profit arm, because he knew building AI is very expensive. So it’s about proving what Musk knew, what he didn’t know, and whether he really was deceived by Altman and Brockman.
There’s a big debate about when exactly Musk found out about this alleged misconduct. Musk founded OpenAI with Altman and Brockman in 2015, and he brought the suit in 2024. There’s a statute of limitations for charitable trust claims; you need to have brought a claim within three to four years after you find out about the alleged misconduct. So Musk tries to paint a picture that back in the day he was a little suspicious, but that it was really only in 2022 that he realized OpenAI was no longer committed to its original charitable mission, and that he had been scammed. It’s only the first week of trial, but I’m not sure Musk has proved this to the judge and jury.
What were some standout moments thus far?
At one point one of Elon Musk’s lawyers said, “We could all die as a result of AI.” I think a lot of the people in the room were really shaken by this comment, and the judge told Musk’s lawyer: You talk about all these safety risks that OpenAI has when building AI, but Musk is also creating a company that’s in the same exact space. She basically said, I’m sure there’s plenty of people who also don’t want to put the future of humanity in Elon Musk’s hands.
And then the lawyers just kept going on and on about the catastrophic risks of AI and whether Elon Musk or OpenAI was in the better position to steward AI safety. And the judge sort of snapped. She said very sternly that this trial was not about whether or not artificial intelligence has damaged humanity. And I thought that was a really striking standout moment of the trial that pointed at how even though it is technically just about whether Elon Musk was really deceived by OpenAI, it’s also become a huge discussion about AI safety and some of the practices that the labs are engaging in when building AI.
Can you give us a look behind the curtain at how getting into this trial works?
There are tons of reporters. This is a very high-profile suit, so I have to wake up around 4:30 a.m. and show up to the Oakland courthouse at 6 a.m. sharp to get in line. And on some days, even 6 a.m. doesn’t get you into the courtroom. There are lots of photographers in front of the courthouse, especially on days when you know Musk or Altman and Brockman are present. And there’s also some concerned citizens who want to watch the trial. I usually have to wait, like, two hours in line to get in to be one of the 30 people who claim the unreserved seats in the courtroom.
What has it felt like to see Elon Musk testify? How would you describe his demeanor?
He shows up in a crisp black suit. He can be this inflammatory person on X, but in the courtroom, he is calm, cool, collected, and looks very comfortable. He has been in a lot of lawsuits. He knows how to talk to the jury and how to present himself in front of them and the judge. He’s also cracking jokes with his lawyer and even the opposing party’s lawyer and the judge.
And he can be witty. There was this one moment when OpenAI’s lawyer was asking Musk a question and sort of fed him an answer. And Musk said “That’s not a leading question, that’s a leading answer.” The judge intervened and said, “You’re not a lawyer, Elon.” And then he was like, “Well, I did take Law 101.”
That said, he does get flustered and uncomfortable when OpenAI’s lawyer asks tough, piercing questions. Which he’s been doing.
What are the biggest things we’ve learned that weren’t clear in the earlier phases of this case?
On the fourth day of the trial, Musk admitted during cross-examination that xAI distills OpenAI’s models to train its own models, which was shocking. Musk followed up by saying that this is standard practice among all the labs now and that xAI wasn’t doing anything beyond what others were already doing. But a lot of the journalists started typing away at their laptops as soon as Musk made this comment.
I also learned that there’s just so much scheming among Big Tech executives. You know about it vaguely, but to hear firsthand accounts and read their emails and text messages is fascinating.
For example, there was a text message between Musk and Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, where they’re kind of teaming up to stop OpenAI’s restructuring. They’re even trying to make a bid to buy all the assets of OpenAI’s nonprofit. The level of scheming that goes on among these executives is mind-blowing.
What happens next?
OpenAI’s president, Greg Brockman, who was meticulously taking notes during some of Elon Musk’s testimony, is expected to testify next week. And Stuart Russell, a computer scientist at UC Berkeley, will testify about AI safety. I’m expecting that to open the floodgates to this crazy discussion about who can be trusted to build AI.
A bunch of other high-profile people are expected to testify, like former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, former CTO Mira Murati, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The trial is supposed to last around three weeks. The nine jurors will deliver an advisory verdict that guides the judge on how to decide Musk’s claims against OpenAI. The judge doesn’t have to listen to the jury and can decide however she wants. If she decides OpenAI is liable, then she’ll decide what sort of remedies are appropriate.
MIT Technology Review will have ongoing coverage of Musk v. Altman until its conclusion. Follow @techreview or @michelletomkim on X for up-to-the-minute reporting.
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