Musk’s “World War III” Threat Emerges as Evidence in OpenAI Trial
Key Points
- Elon Musk sent a hostile text to OpenAI President Greg Brockman two days before his trial began.
- The message warned that Musk and Sam Altman would become "the most hated men in America" if settlement talks failed.
- Musk’s lawsuit alleges OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission under Altman's leadership.
- OpenAI rejected Musk’s settlement offer and proceeded with the trial, where Musk testified first.
- Greg Brockman may be allowed to testify about the threatening message, potentially making it admissible evidence.
- The exchange echoes a prior 2022 dispute where Musk threatened a "World War III" scenario during Twitter purchase negotiations.
- Musk’s courtroom performance included several missteps and admissions of limited AI safety knowledge at xAI.
Elon Musk sent a hostile message to OpenAI President Greg Brockman two days before the start of his lawsuit trial, warning that Musk and Sam Altman would become "the most hated men in America" if settlement talks failed. The lawsuit alleges OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission under Altman's leadership. OpenAI rejected Musk’s settlement offer, and the case proceeded with Musk testifying. Brockman may be allowed to testify about the message, potentially exposing Musk’s motives and adding a new twist to the high‑stakes courtroom battle.
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI entered a dramatic new phase this week when a threatening text he sent to OpenAI President Greg Brockman surfaced as potential evidence. The message, dispatched two days before the trial began, warned that if the parties did not drop their claims, both Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman would become “the most hated men in America.”
The lawsuit, filed by Musk, claims that OpenAI strayed from its original nonprofit purpose of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. Musk alleges that under Altman’s direction the company abandoned that mission and turned toward profit‑driven goals.
According to a court filing from OpenAI, Musk reached out to Brockman on the eve of the trial to “gauge interest” in a settlement. Brockman responded promptly, suggesting that both sides could simply drop their claims and avoid a protracted courtroom showdown. Musk rejected the proposal, and the tone of his reply grew increasingly hostile.
“By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America,” Musk wrote. “If you insist, so it will.” The exchange has drawn attention because communications made during settlement negotiations are typically inadmissible, yet OpenAI argues an exception applies. The company points to a prior case in which Musk’s own legal team attempted to renegotiate the purchase price of Twitter, threatening a "World War III" scenario if the deal proceeded on Musk’s terms.
OpenAI declined Musk’s settlement terms, and the trial opened with Musk as the first witness. On the stand, he stumbled several times, conceding to back‑off on claims that AI risks could become existential and admitting limited knowledge of safety practices at his own AI venture, xAI. Legal analysts note that Musk’s erratic courtroom demeanor may have weakened his position.
Now, Brockman could be called to testify about the threatening message, potentially exposing Musk’s true motives for pursuing the litigation. If admitted, the text may serve as evidence that Musk’s lawsuit was driven more by personal animus than by genuine concern for AI governance.
The case underscores the high‑stakes nature of disputes in the rapidly evolving AI sector, where founders and executives clash over the direction of powerful technologies. As the trial progresses, both sides face the prospect of further revelations that could reshape public perception of the key players involved.