Musk vs. Altman: April Trial Date Set for AI Showdown

The long-simmering legal dispute between tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman has a firm date on the calendar. An Oakland federal judge has scheduled a jury trial to begin in late April 2026, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown over the future of OpenAI.

The case, which pits Musk's vision of a strictly nonprofit AI future against Altman's commercial ambitions, will be closely watched across the technology sector. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has allocated four weeks for the proceedings, signaling the complexity and significance of the dispute.

The legal showdown is officially scheduled. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has ordered jury selection to commence on Monday, April 27. The trial itself is expected to run through May, with a target end date around May 22.

This scheduling follows a key ruling from the previous week, where the judge cleared the case to proceed to a jury trial. She cited that Musk had provided 'plenty of evidence' to justify the legal action, even characterizing it as circumstantial but sufficient for a jury to consider.

The venue for this corporate drama is the Oakland federal court. The decision to move forward with a jury trial marks a significant victory for Musk's legal team, as Altman's lawyers had previously argued to have the case dismissed before it reached this stage.

The lawsuit, filed last year, stems from a fundamental disagreement over OpenAI's mission. Elon Musk, a co-founder and early benefactor, claims he contributed approximately $38 million to the organization based on the promise that it would remain an altruistic, nonprofit entity dedicated to the public good.

Musk's legal complaint alleges fraud regarding OpenAI's strategic shift toward a for-profit model and its deepening partnership with Microsoft. He argues this pivot betrays the organization's founding principles.

OpenAI and Altman have vigorously contested these claims. Their defense rests on several key points:

• Musk was aware of the pivot toward a for-profit structure as early as 2018
• The organization's nonprofit arm continues to play a central governance role
• The lawsuit is characterized as 'baseless' and part of a broader harassment campaign

As the case prepares for trial, previously sealed documents have begun to surface, offering a glimpse into the personal and professional rift between the two men. Hundreds of exhibits were unsealed last week, revealing the tension that existed long before the lawsuit was formally filed.

One particularly revealing exchange from 2023 shows Altman reaching out to Musk directly. In a text message, Altman expressed personal hurt over Musk's public attacks on the company he helped build.

I don't think openai would have happened without you — and it really fucking hurts when you publicly attack openai.

Musk's response highlighted the philosophical chasm between them. He apologized for the hurt caused but maintained that his actions were driven by a larger concern for humanity's future.

I hear you and it is certainly not my intention to be hurtful, for which I apologize, but the fate of civilization is at stake.

This trial represents more than just a personal dispute; it is a battle over the governance and direction of one of the world's most influential technology companies. The outcome could set a precedent for how AI development is funded and controlled in the future.

For Musk, the lawsuit is a crusade to uphold the original nonprofit vision of OpenAI. For Altman and OpenAI, it is a defense of their ability to evolve and secure the resources necessary to compete in a rapidly advancing field, all while maintaining what they describe as a unique governance structure.

The four-week trial will force a public examination of private agreements, internal communications, and the ethical responsibilities of those building the technologies that will shape our world.

The stage is now set for one of the most significant corporate trials of the year. As April approaches, the tech world will be watching Oakland for a legal battle that pits two of its most prominent figures against one another.

Key questions remain unanswered: What will a jury make of the conflicting evidence? Will the personal history between Musk and Altman influence the verdict? And how might the ruling impact the future of OpenAI and the broader AI industry?

With the trial expected to run deep into May, answers to these questions—and the future of the relationship between these two tech giants—will soon be determined in a court of law.