Elon Musk sent ominous texts to Greg Brockman, Sam Altman after asking for a settlement, OpenAI claims
Musk threatened Brockman and Altman would be 'most hated' if they didn't settle.
Two days before the Elon Musk vs. OpenAI trial began last week, Elon Musk texted OpenAI president Greg Brockman, suggesting the company settle the lawsuit. Brockman replied by proposing both sides drop their suits. The exchange then turned hostile, with Musk responding: 'By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so it will be.' OpenAI's lawyers revealed this exchange in a new court filing on Sunday, seeking to admit it as evidence of Musk's motives. However, the judge ruled the texts inadmissible, according to TechCrunch reporter Tim Fernholz covering the trial.
Musk's lawsuit aims to unwind OpenAI's for-profit structure, force the company to release its technology publicly, strip Microsoft's licensing agreement, and compel OpenAI to pay damages plus legal fees. Observers noted that the 'settle-or-else' text undermines Musk's narrative of suing out of concern for AI safety. Instead, it suggests his real goals are financial: demanding a cut of OpenAI's success while kneecapping a competitor. OpenAI's countersuit makes this exact claim. The trial continues, with this revelation casting Musk's legal strategy in a sharply self-serving light.
- Musk texted Brockman two days before trial, demanding a settlement, then threatened they'd be 'most hated men in America'.
- OpenAI's lawyers tried to submit the texts as evidence, but the judge ruled them inadmissible.
- The exchange supports OpenAI's countersuit that Musk's real motive is money and harming a rival, not AI safety.
Why It Matters
This text exposes Musk's lawsuit as a personal vendetta, not a principled crusade, reshaping public perception of the trial.