BY COMFORT OGBONNA
Former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever delivered dramatic testimony in court on Monday, saying he spent nearly a year compiling evidence that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had shown what he described as a “consistent pattern of lying” while leading the artificial intelligence company.
The testimony came during a high-stakes legal battle involving Elon Musk and OpenAI, a case that could have major implications for the future direction of one of the world’s most influential AI organizations.
Speaking in a California courtroom, Sutskever confirmed that he had been considering efforts to remove Altman from his leadership role for at least a year before the OpenAI board voted in November 2023 to abruptly fire him. According to Sutskever, concerns about Altman’s behavior had been building internally for a long time and involved accusations that the CEO undermined colleagues and created divisions among senior executives.
Sutskever testified that he assembled a detailed document outlining evidence of Altman’s alleged dishonesty at the request of OpenAI’s board of directors. Earlier legal filings indicated the document stretched to approximately 52 pages and included examples of conduct the former chief scientist believed damaged the company’s mission and internal trust.
He also told the court that he had extensive conversations with former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati regarding Altman’s management style and leadership behavior. According to Sutskever, the two executives had discussed concerns about Altman for a significant period before the board eventually acted.
Sutskever stated in court that Altman’s conduct was “not conducive to any grand goal,” including the safe development of artificial general intelligence, often referred to as AGI. OpenAI has long promoted the idea that advanced AI systems should be developed responsibly and in ways that benefit humanity broadly rather than serving narrow corporate interests.
The testimony revisited one of the most dramatic events in the modern technology industry — Altman’s sudden firing in November 2023 and his rapid reinstatement just days later after widespread backlash from employees, investors, and partners. At the time, Sutskever was a member of OpenAI’s board and played a central role in the decision to remove Altman.
However, the situation quickly spiraled into a crisis for the company. Nearly all OpenAI employees threatened to quit unless Altman returned, while Microsoft reportedly offered to hire Altman, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, and large portions of the company’s workforce. Faced with the possibility of OpenAI collapsing entirely, Sutskever later publicly expressed regret for his role in the board’s actions and voted in favor of bringing Altman back as CEO.
Since returning, Altman has remained the face of OpenAI during a period of extraordinary growth fueled by the global popularity of ChatGPT and increasing investment in artificial intelligence. The company has reportedly raised billions of dollars to expand computing infrastructure and AI research, with speculation growing around a future public offering that could value the company at more than $1 trillion.
The current lawsuit centers on claims brought by Musk, one of OpenAI’s original co-founders who left the organization’s board in 2018. Musk argues that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission and transformed into a profit-driven company focused on enriching executives and investors. He is seeking approximately $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, with the funds intended to benefit the nonprofit organization behind OpenAI.
Musk is also asking the court to remove Altman and Brockman from leadership positions. During earlier testimony in the trial, Musk said he had initially been aware of discussions about creating a for-profit structure but claimed he was reassured by Altman that OpenAI would ultimately remain committed to nonprofit principles.
In another major revelation during Monday’s testimony, Sutskever confirmed that after Altman’s temporary removal, OpenAI board members explored the possibility of merging with rival AI company Anthropic, the creator of the Claude chatbot. Under the proposal, Anthropic leadership would reportedly take control of OpenAI. Sutskever said he personally was not enthusiastic about merging the organizations.
Sutskever also disclosed the enormous financial value of his OpenAI ownership stake, saying it was worth roughly $5 billion in late 2025 and has since climbed to around $7 billion. His testimony offered a rare glimpse into the staggering wealth created by the explosive growth of the artificial intelligence industry.
He further revealed that after Altman’s firing, he largely stayed away from the internet and social media for much of the weekend and was initially unaware of contingency plans being developed by Microsoft and others to rescue OpenAI’s leadership team.
Sutskever eventually left OpenAI in 2024 and later launched a new AI startup called Safe Superintelligence, which is focused on developing advanced AI systems with an emphasis on safety and alignment.
The courtroom battle has already featured testimony from several major figures in the technology industry. Earlier Monday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described Microsoft’s massive investment in OpenAI as a “calculated risk,” arguing the partnership had delivered major strategic and marketing advantages for the software giant.
Other current and former OpenAI executives, including Brockman, Murati, and Shivon Zilis, have also taken the witness stand as the closely watched trial enters its final phase. Closing arguments are expected later this week before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
The outcome of the case could reshape the future governance of OpenAI and potentially influence how artificial intelligence companies are structured, funded, and regulated as the global AI race continues to intensify.
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