Elon Musk appeared adrift and unprepared during his testimony in Musk v. Altman, spending much of his direct examination on self-promotion rather than OpenAI's core mission.

Musk testified that he came up with the idea and name for OpenAI, recruited key people, provided all initial funding, and worked between 80 to 100 hours a week. He portrayed himself as the driving force behind the organization, stating he became involved in AI safety after a conversation with Google's Larry Page about whether AI could wipe out humanity.

During direct examination, Musk recounted his biography and various ventures unrelated to OpenAI rather than building a clear narrative about whether Sam Altman strayed from OpenAI's stated mission. He discussed a potential for-profit model for OpenAI that he had not agreed to in the form that actually came to pass.

The courtroom remained largely silent or puzzled during Musk's testimony, with the observer noting he appeared petulant and sounded more focused on defending his own role than addressing the core legal claim. His performance contrasted sharply with his demeanor in a previous defamation suit where he had shown more animation and persuaded a jury to find him not guilty.