OpenAI Chief Greg Brockman testified in court. He said Elon Musk wanted OpenAI to become a for-profit company. Musk also wanted full control. This was partly to help raise $80 billion. The goal was to colonize Mars.
Brockman said Musk wanted to change OpenAI's structure in 2017. It was hard for a non-profit to raise enough money. They needed funds for advanced AI models. Musk wanted to lead the for-profit company.
Sam Altman, the current CEO, was the only other candidate. Brockman recalled a heated meeting. Musk demanded a controlling stake in OpenAI. He cited his company experience. Musk said he would use the stake to build a self-sufficient city on Mars.
Brockman stated Musk said he needed $80 billion to build a Mars city. Musk wanted full control. He would decide when to give up that control.
Musk co-founded OpenAI. He is suing the company. He claims it wrongly became for-profit. He says it abandoned its non-profit goals. Musk wants it to return to being non-profit.
This trial is in its second week in California. It could shape the future of OpenAI. OpenAI started the generative AI revolution. This was after releasing ChatGPT in late 2022.
Brockman testified that OpenAI plans to spend $50 billion. This is for computing resources in 2026.