• Testimony links Musk to demand for full control in exchange for major space funding
• Intense legal dispute with OpenAI over its structure, mission and future direction

Court testimony by OpenAI’s president revealed that billionaire Elon Musk supported converting the AI startup into a for-profit company, but in return sought full control as part of a broader plan tied to funding a massive project aimed at colonizing Mars, estimated to cost $80 billion.

The statements came during the second week of a trial in California that could shape the future of the company behind generative AI systems, which saw global impact following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.

OpenAI’s chief operating officer Greg Brockman told the court that Musk believed the nonprofit structure limited the company’s ability to raise the large-scale funding needed to develop advanced AI models, adding that Musk had indicated interest in leading the company if its structure changed, with Sam Altman as another potential candidate.

According to the testimony, Musk discussed in a 2017 meeting his need for up to $80 billion to build a self-sustaining city on Mars, arguing that full control would be necessary to achieve that goal.

Brockman also described a tense moment during discussions over ownership structure, saying Musk left the meeting angrily and threatened to withhold funding.

OpenAI accuses Musk of attempting to influence its direction after leaving its board in 2018, while Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages, claiming the company abandoned its original charitable mission in favor of profit.

The case comes as OpenAI expands rapidly, with plans to spend around $50 billion on computing infrastructure in 2026, amid expectations of a potential $1 trillion public listing.

Meanwhile, Musk’s own AI company xAI is developing a direct competitor, intensifying a wider race over artificial intelligence leadership and space-related ambitions, including future Mars colonization projects.