On Monday, former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever testified that he spent approximately a year compiling evidence for the ChatGPT maker’s board regarding CEO Sam Altman’s “consistent pattern of lying.”
During his testimony amidst a legal confrontation between OpenAI and Elon Musk, the leading AI researcher revealed that he had been contemplating measures to remove Altman as CEO for at least a year before the November 2023 board vote that led to Altman’s ousting.
Sutskever stated he had prepared a document at the request of OpenAI’s board, outlining instances of Altman’s dishonesty, confirming that Altman’s actions included “undermining and creating discord among executives.” He mentioned discussing Altman’s removal with then chief technology officer Mira Murati “for an extended period.”
In a previous deposition, Sutskever noted that his document spanned 52 pages.
He remarked that Altman’s behavior was “not conducive to any grand goal,” especially regarding the development of safe AGI, during his testimony in a California courtroom.
Sutskever played a pivotal role in Altman’s dramatic firing and subsequent reinstatement in November 2023—at that time, Sutskever was on OpenAI’s board and helped orchestrate Altman’s dismissal, later expressing regret over his “participation in the board’s actions” and voting for Altman’s reinstatement. Altman has since led the company and is now a central figure in OpenAI’s dispute with Musk.
This testimony occurs during the third week of a trial that could significantly impact OpenAI’s future, as the company raises billions from investors to enhance its computing capabilities in anticipation of a potential trillion-dollar IPO.
Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who left the board in 2018, has criticized the organization and Altman for abandoning its nonprofit origins and transitioning into a profit-driven entity for personal gain. He seeks $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and its backer Microsoft, to be allocated to the nonprofit, and calls for the removal of Altman and President Greg Brockman from their positions.
Musk testified in the trial’s first week that he was aware of early discussions about converting OpenAI to a for-profit model but was reassured by Altman that it would continue as a nonprofit.
Closing arguments for the trial are scheduled for Thursday, according to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
Sutskever confirms 2023 OpenAI-Anthropic merger discussions
Sutskever revealed on Monday that his ownership stake in OpenAI was valued at approximately $5 billion as of November 2025, and around $7 billion currently.
He also acknowledged that after Altman’s brief removal, the remaining OpenAI board members engaged with rival Anthropic regarding a proposal for the Claude chatbot creator to merge with OpenAI and assume leadership. He expressed that he was “not excited” about merging OpenAI with another company.
Sutskever noted he avoided the internet for most of the weekend following the board’s decision to fire Altman and was initially unaware of contingency plans, such as Microsoft’s suggestion to integrate Altman, Brockman, and other OpenAI employees into a new subsidiary.
He departed from OpenAI in 2024 and has since founded an AI startup named Safe Superintelligence.
Earlier on Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took the stand, describing the tech giant’s investment in OpenAI as a “calculated risk,” emphasizing that Microsoft regarded its early investments as advantageous for marketing reasons.
Testimonies from both former and current OpenAI executives, including Brockman, Murati, and Shivon Zilis, have already occurred during the trial.
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First Published: May 12, 2026 8:05 AM IST
