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MUSK CALLS HIMSELF 'FOOL' FOR $38M OPENAI INVESTMENT

AI DESK1 MIN READ
SAT, MAY 2, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Elon Musk testified in court this week that he regrets his $38 million investment in OpenAI, which is now valued at $800 billion. The admission came during week one of Musk's trial against OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman.

Musk made the self-deprecating remark while defending his lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI, claiming the company violated its original nonprofit mission by pursuing commercial interests. The trial has produced dramatic moments beyond the investment confession. Musk warned of a "Terminator"-like future regarding artificial intelligence and disclosed that his own company, xAI, uses OpenAI's models for AI training—a detail that undercuts some of his public criticisms of the competitor. The case centers on OpenAI's shift from a nonprofit research organization to a capped-profit entity, with Musk arguing the transformation violated the company's founding principles. Altman and OpenAI have disputed Musk's characterization of events. Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left the board in 2018. The trial is expected to continue with potentially significant revelations ahead.

■ SOURCES

The Decoder

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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