Sam Altman says Elon Musk wanted OpenAI under family control, hurt company culture with pressure
Follow UsSam Altman claimed that Elon Musk suggested passing on OpenAI to his children.
Altman also accused Musk of damaging OpenAI’s work culture.
'I don’t think Mr. Musk understood how to run a good research lab,' Altman said.
Sam Altman has claimed that Elon Musk wanted complete control over OpenAI and even suggested that the company could later be passed on to his children. Altman made these remarks while testifying in a California federal court as part of Musk’s ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI.
SurveyAccording to Altman, one conversation with Musk became a ‘particularly hair-raising moment.’ Altman told the court that OpenAI cofounders had asked Musk what would happen to the company if he gained full control and later died. Musk reportedly replied, ‘I haven’t thought about it a ton, but, you know, maybe it should just, the control should pass to my children.’ Altman said he ‘didn’t feel comfortable with that.’
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The trial is focused on Musk’s claims that OpenAI moved away from its original nonprofit mission. Musk argues that the startup was created to develop AI for the benefit of humanity, not for profit.
Altman also accused Musk of damaging OpenAI’s work culture. He said Musk pushed OpenAI leaders, including president Greg Brockman and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, to constantly rank researchers based on performance and ‘take a chainsaw through a bunch.’
According to Altman, this management style created pressure that did not fit the needs of an AI research lab. ‘I don’t think Mr. Musk understood how to run a good research lab,’ Altman testified.
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He explained that researchers need ‘psychological safety’ and enough time to explore ideas without fear of losing their jobs over short-term results.
Altman also said Musk’s exit from OpenAI boosted morale inside the company because employees realised they no longer had to ‘work this way anymore.’
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