Musk Trial: Altman Was Fired Over Trustworthiness, Not AI Safety
Mira Murati's testimony in Musk v. Altman confirmed that Sam Altman's 2023 firing from OpenAI had "nothing per se to do with AI safety" and was entirely about his trustworthiness. Helen Toner's deposition corroborates the same position. NYT reporter Mike Isaac noted he faced "intense pushback at all levels" on the original story; under oath, "people speak very differently." Of Musk's original 26 claims, only two remain.
Why It Matters
Multiple witnesses under oath now align on a narrative directly contradicting the "AI safety concern" framing that fueled Altman's 2023 reinstatement and shaped press coverage. The verdict will be cited in every nonprofit-to-for-profit AI restructuring term sheet and governance debate going forward.