Elon Musk sent ominous texts to Greg Brockman, Sam Altman after asking for a settlement, OpenAI claims
Source: TechCrunch
In Brief
Posted: 9:36 AM PDT · May 4, 2026
Image Credits: Marc Piasecki / Getty Images
Two days before the Elon Musk vs. OpenAI trial began last week, Musk texted the model maker’s president and co‑founder Greg Brockman, suggesting that OpenAI settle the suit. After Brockman replied by proposing that both sides drop their suits, the exchange went off the rails, 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.”
So says a new filing submitted on Sunday by OpenAI’s lawyers. The filing didn’t include copies of the text exchange; most of it was dedicated to convincing the judge why this settlement‑talk exchange should be admitted into evidence. The judge, however, ruled the exchange inadmissible, per TechCrunch reporter Tim Fernholz, who is on‑site covering the trial.
The implication is clear. Musk’s lawsuit seeks to:
- Unwind OpenAI’s for‑profit structure
- Require its technology to be made publicly available
- Strip Microsoft’s licensing agreement
- Compel OpenAI to pay him general, compensatory, and punitive damages plus his lawyers’ fees
After OpenAI’s lawyers publicly shared this “settle‑or‑else” text, observers instantly noted that the trial might not be about Musk’s concern for AI safety, but rather about demanding money from OpenAI’s success while kneecapping a rival—essentially what OpenAI’s countersuit alleges.
Meanwhile, the trial continues.
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