Former OpenAI executive Sutskever discloses nearly $7 billion stake in AI firm

Former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever testified in a California courtroom on May 11, revealing his ownership stake in the AI company is valued at approximately $7 billion. His testimony comes as part of a legal dispute between Elon Musk and OpenAI, where Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages and fundamental changes to OpenAI’s governance structure. Sutskever stated he had been contemplating removing co-founder Sam Altman as CEO for at least one year before the November 2023 board vote that led to Altman’s firing and subsequent rehiring. He criticized Altman’s leadership, claiming his conduct—including divisive tactics among executives—was detrimental to OpenAI’s goal of developing safe artificial general intelligence (AGI). Sutskever played a key role in Altman’s removal in 2023 before leaving OpenAI in 2024 to launch his own AI startup, Safe Superintelligence. The lawsuit centers on Musk’s claims that OpenAI deviated from its original nonprofit mission, despite his earlier assurances from Altman that it would remain nonprofit. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also testified, framing the company’s investment in OpenAI as a calculated risk with marketing benefits. Earlier in the trial, other OpenAI executives, including President Greg Brockman and CTO Mira Murati, provided testimony. Musk’s legal action targets OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging mismanagement and seeking to reshape the company’s direction. The outcome could influence OpenAI’s future, including its potential multitrillion-dollar valuation ahead of an anticipated initial public offering (IPO). The trial continues as key figures weigh in on the company’s trajectory and leadership decisions.