Revelations from Unsealed Documents in Musk v Altman Legal Dispute

The recent release of over a hundred documents has shone a light on private conversations involving prominent technology leaders. These include texts, emails, and diary entries from executives embroiled in a lawsuit initiated by Elon Musk against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman.

These documents offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of Silicon Valley, exposing exchanges ranging from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's late-night messages to strategic deliberations on OpenAI's trajectory between Musk and Altman. Unpublished works from Nadella and diary notes from OpenAI cofounder Greg Brockman are also part of this trove.

Musk's Lawsuit Against OpenAI: A Story of Misdirection?

Musk's legal action, initiated in 2024, claims that he was deceived when OpenAI's leadership decided to convert from its nonprofit roots to a for-profit model. Musk asserts that he contributed $38 million to support OpenAI’s nonprofit mission.

In response, OpenAI refutes these claims, asserting that Musk was informed of the shift towards a profit-centric framework. 'Mr. Musk’s lawsuit is without merit and follows his continuous pattern of harassment,' remarked a spokesperson from OpenAI. They further emphasized their commitment to enhancing the OpenAI Foundation.

Brockman's Diary: Contemplations of Independence

Entries from Brockman’s personal journal reveal his internal conflict over Elon Musk's influence. He reflected on the possibility of liberation and financial empowerment, contemplating the impacts of diverging from Musk.

During a deposition last year, Brockman confirmed that his main motive was the organization's mission, valuing financial gain less. His journal dissected the benefits and risks of separation from Musk, pondering the financial and organizational strategies of OpenAI.

Leadership Shifts at Neuralink

Jared Birchall, Musk's trusted advisor, detailed during a deposition in September the transition of his role as CFO of Neuralink. He admitted that while officially holding the title, a new finance head had yet to be appointed formally.

LinkedIn updates identified William Sawyer as the new financial lead as of August, though Sawyer refrained from commenting on the transition.

Nadella’s Financial Ties to Neuralink

The Microsoft CEO disclosed during a 2025 testimony that his assets included investments in Neuralink, though he denied ever discussing this directly with Musk. Despite Musk's capricious nature, Nadella expressed admiration for Musk's innovative achievements.

Authoring AI

A document dated July 10, 2023, unveiled Nadella's collaborative work on a book, 'An Inflection Point: Mission, Transformation, and Next-Gen AI,' co-authored with Harvard professor Marco Iansiti. Despite creating drafts, the project remained unpublished.

OpenAI’s Struggle Against Google

Amid strategic emails in 2018, Musk warned OpenAI of the looming threat Google posed, urging for swift and dramatic strategies to remain relevant.

Musk departed from OpenAI’s board shortly after in 2018, citing potential conflicts with Tesla’s AI endeavors.

Negotiations with Tech Giants

Through emails dated August 2016, Musk advocated for Microsoft over Amazon for funding OpenAI, expressing personal impressions about the executives of both companies.

Eventually, OpenAI secured an agreement with Microsoft in 2019, marking a significant partnership in its funding journey.

Turmoil Over Altman’s Dismissal

The abrupt removal of Altman as OpenAI's CEO in late 2023 led to upheaval, prompting Microsoft to offer him a position within its ecosystem and an assurance of roles for the OpenAI team at the tech giant.

OpenAI's former CTO, Mira Murati, reached out to Nadella emphasizing the importance of Microsoft's public support in retaining core talent amid competitive recruitment from other leading AI firms.

Musk and Altman's Strained Relationship

In personal messages, Altman confided in Musk, sharing how painful the critiques of OpenAI were coming from someone he revered. Musk acknowledged the hurt caused but stressed that he believed significant stakes were at play.