Texts From OpenAI Board Ouster Shown in Musk Lawsuit

Texts exchanged between Sam Altman and Mira Murati on November 11, 2023, were presented Wednesday in the Musk v. Altman civil trial in Oakland, California. The messages, entered as evidence in the second week of the trial, show Altman asking Murati whether the board still wanted him after he had been locked out of OpenAI’s offices.

Murati, who became interim CEO following the board’s action on November 17, 2023, replied that she was about to speak with the board. Seven hours later Altman asked for an update while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed concern. “Directionally very bad,” Murati wrote.

She told Altman the board was convinced about its decision. ” Murati responded that the board did not want him to come to the office or meet with them.

” She added that the board did not care if everyone quits. Altman asked what would happen if Microsoft acquired OpenAI. During the exchange Murati and other board members were on a call with Nadella. The texts include Murati telling Altman, “They’re convinced about their decision.

… Yes for you to be gone.

The messages were shown to jurors as part of Elon Musk’s lawsuit alleging that Altman and Greg Brockman broke the founding agreement by converting OpenAI from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure. Musk is seeking removal of Altman and Brockman, reversal of the for-profit restructuring, and $134 billion in damages to be returned to OpenAI’s nonprofit arm.

Shivon Zilis, who served on OpenAI’s board from 2020 to 2023, testified on Wednesday. Zilis is an executive at Neuralink and the mother of four of Musk’s children. According to court evidence presented, Zilis testified that Musk wanted OpenAI to become a subsidiary of Tesla. Sources also state that Musk attempted to recruit Altman to a Tesla-led AI initiative before OpenAI’s founding.

The testimony and released messages constitute the most detailed public account to date of the November 2023 events in which the board removed Altman, installed Emmett Shear as interim CEO for a brief period, and later saw Altman return to leadership after Microsoft’s involvement.