Microsoft CEO Nadella to testify in Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI over company's shift to for-profit status

Satya Nadella is expected to take the stand Monday in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI. Musk accuses OpenAI of betraying its original nonprofit mission and misappropriating his founding donations totalling $38 million to build an empire valued at over $850 billion. Nadella's testimony will explain emails revealing how Microsoft funded OpenAI's shift from nonprofit to for-profit entity.

Musk's lawyers will present recently disclosed Microsoft emails from January 2018 showing Nadella consulted executives about a discount for OpenAI to use Azure, Microsoft's cloud-computing platform. The emails indicate Microsoft only opened its checkbook once a profit appeared possible, according to Musk's legal strategy.

An "advisory" jury is expected to reach a verdict on any wrongdoing by the week of May 18. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final ruling on liability and remedies after hearing the jury's opinion. If the judge sides with Musk, OpenAI's initial public offering could be jeopardized.