Ilya testifies for revenge! Solid proof that Altman lied, holding $7 billion while saying "I don't want OpenAI to be destroyed"

Original source: Xin Zhi Yuan

Lead-in: Just now, Ilya took the stand! He testified under oath in Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI: He spent a year gathering evidence of Altman's "systematic lying," compiling it into a 52-page memo submitted to the board. For the first time, he also confirmed holding approximately $7 billion worth of OpenAI shares. Altman is expected to take the stand as early as Tuesday. The drama is about to unfold.

The big case of Musk suing OpenAI has finally reached Ilya's testimony in court!

May 11, 2026, Oakland Federal Court, California.

When the curly-haired, slightly melancholic genius scientist Ilya Sutskever slowly walked to the witness stand, everyone present held their breath.

Wherever he appears, Ilya draws everyone's attention, let alone at the trial of Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI.

This time, Ilya was no longer the apologizer posting "I deeply regret" on social media, but an avenger returning with a "bombshell."

He not only confirmed Altman's habitual lying but also revealed the power black hole beneath OpenAI's glamorous exterior to the world.

This is destined to be the final chapter of an "AI palace intrigue" recorded in history.

This trial could determine the future of OpenAI—a company preparing for a trillion-dollar IPO, valued at $850 billion.

Altman is expected to appear in court as early as Tuesday to respond.

A 52-Page "Lie Evidence": Altman Through That Man's Eyes

"He habitually lies, stirs up conflict among executives, and undermines corporate governance."

When Ilya spoke these words under oath, the current OpenAI management seated at the defendant's table turned ashen.

This was no longer a rumor but courtroom testimony from OpenAI's former Chief Scientist.

This time, Ilya revealed a shocking detail never disclosed before: Before the globally shocking "November coup" in 2023, he had secretly gathered evidence for an entire year.

That evidence file was 52 pages long.

In this "complete collection of Altman's dirt," it detailed how Altman played power games on a daily basis.

For example, his specialty was sowing discord.

He often created conflict between CTO Mira Murati and other executives, making them suspicious of each other, thereby establishing his own absolute authority.

Additionally, he was very skilled at information manipulation.

Ilya testified that Altman created an environment where "executives couldn't get the right information." In such an environment, any serious discussion about AI safety would be downplayed by Altman with false market visions.

This time, Ilya stated bluntly that Altman's actions were "not conducive to achieving any grand goals," especially developing safe AGI.

"I spent a year observing and thinking, and ultimately I believed firing him was appropriate."

Ilya's tone was steady, but every word struck home. He admitted to having multiple detailed conversations with Murati; both were inherently uneasy about Altman's behavior.

The $7 Billion "Traitor": The Expensive Price Tag of an Idealist

Next came another climax of the trial.

As a co-founder of OpenAI, Ilya has always been seen as a "pure scientist." But when the judge asked about his shareholding value, the number shocked everyone: $7 billion.

Just a week earlier, OpenAI President Greg Brockman admitted to holding shares worth $30 billion.

And Altman, whom Musk accused of being "blinded by greed," is worth about $3.5 billion (mainly from his external investments).

An ironic scene unfolded: These so-called "non-profit" devotees have now become some of the fastest wealth accumulators in human history.

But Ilya exhibited a nearly tragic sense of contradiction in court.

He mentioned that to join OpenAI back then, he rejected Google's annual renewal offer of $6 million—which, in his view at the time, was an "astronomical figure."

He explained why, on the weekend of the coup week, he suddenly changed course and signed a joint letter demanding Altman's return.

"It was a 'Hail Mary,' " Ilya said in a low voice. "I saw the company on the verge of collapse. Microsoft was about to swallow us all."

At that time, the situation deteriorated faster than anyone expected. A large number of employees indicated they would follow Altman. The company faced disintegration.

Ilya later expressed regret—not for gathering evidence or voting to remove Altman, but for "participating in the board's actions." He criticized his board colleagues for lacking experience, accepting "bad legal advice," and acting too hastily.

On Monday in court, when he said this, the entire gallery fell silent.

"I have a strong sense of belonging to OpenAI. I feel I poured my life into it. I just care about it. I don't want it to be destroyed."

The Panorama of the OpenAI Mafia

Furthermore, this trial incidentally unveiled a panoramic view of the "OpenAI mafia."

In May 2024, he left OpenAI to found Safe Superintelligence. By April 2026, this company had raised $3 billion and was valued at $32 billion.

Dario and Daniela Amodei left to found Anthropic, rumored to be heading towards a trillion-dollar valuation.

Mira Murati founded Thinking Machines Lab, which completed a $2 billion seed round at a $12 billion valuation last year, with two-thirds of its team being OpenAI alumni.

Aravind Srinivas founded Perplexity, valued at $20 billion. Liam Fedus founded Periodic Labs, valued at $7 billion.

Interestingly, the reasons these people left vary, but almost every one is related to Altman's leadership style.

The Nearly Happened Anthropic Merger

Ilya's testimony wasn't just about Altman.

He confirmed something previously only rumored: After Altman's brief removal, the remaining OpenAI board members met with Anthropic to discuss a plan for Anthropic to merge with OpenAI and take over leadership.

Ilya said he was "not enthusiastic" about this.

The devastating detail lies in the timing—that weekend in November 2023, OpenAI nearly became part of Anthropic.

If that merger had happened, the AI landscape today would look completely different.

Microsoft's Shadow: Nadella's "Power Grab" Ambition

If Ilya exposed internal decay, then Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who took the stand next, showcased the cold logic of capital.

Nadella described the removal event at the time as "amateur city," stating he "never got a clear explanation."

But court documents revealed another side of Nadella.

A 2022 email disclosed in court showed Nadella raging at his subordinates: "If we've invested this much money and have no control, it's completely pointless!"

Pressed by Musk's lawyers, Nadella admitted that when the 2023 coup occurred, Microsoft already had a "14-person board takeover list" ready and exercised a de facto "veto power" over OpenAI's new board members.

Even more explosive, Nadella had been texting Altman in early 2023, urging him: "Launch the paid subscription version of ChatGPT as soon as possible, the sooner the better."

Two weeks later, he was inquiring about sign-up numbers.

This directly corroborated Musk's accusation: OpenAI was no longer a research lab but Microsoft's "IT department" and monetization machine.

And this is precisely the core of Musk's allegations—that OpenAI deviated from its non-profit mission.

Musk's Fury: A Dream "Used for Free"?

Musk, sitting in the audience, might have shown a complex smile.

The core of this trial is: Did Altman, through false "non-profit" promises, defraud Musk of early investment and brand endorsement, and then sell the results to Microsoft?

Although Ilya didn't fully side with Musk in his testimony (he denied ever promising Musk that OpenAI would never be for-profit), his criticism of Altman's character undoubtedly provided the strongest ammunition for Musk's lawsuit.

Ilya mentioned that he also opposed Musk's proposal to merge OpenAI into Tesla back then, finding Musk too "aggressive."

Musk's core allegation is that Altman and Brockman violated OpenAI's promise to remain forever non-profit, instead pursuing profit.

Ilya's testimony on this point was actually favorable to OpenAI.

He said he "never promised Musk that OpenAI would remain non-profit."

He uttered a line that might be frequently quoted: "OpenAI's mission is greater than its non-profit or for-profit structure."

At this stage of the lawsuit, there are no absolute heroes. It's more like a group of geniuses engaging in the dirtiest hand-to-hand combat on the path to the altar, over interests, power, and the right to define humanity's future.

The Endgame Approaches: OpenAI or OpenMoney?

The trial continues.

This Tuesday, Altman will take the stand in person.

The current situation is extremely dangerous for OpenAI.

If the judge ultimately rules that OpenAI violated its original non-profit charter, its for-profit entity, valued at $850 billion, could face structural reorganization.

Ilya sat on the witness stand for about an hour. According to a Wired reporter's observation, he barely made eye contact with anyone the entire time.

This man was once the soul of OpenAI, the leader who led employees chanting "Feel the AGI" at company parties.

Now, wearing a shirt without a suit jacket, he looked lonely and dejected. He said in court, "I poured my life into OpenAI. I don't want it to be destroyed."

But the reality is that the pure OpenAI he loved so much may have already died when the first page of the 52-page evidence was written.

This trial is not about the success or failure of a single company, but about Silicon Valley's most core contradiction today: When the technology of God-like power (AGI) collides with extreme human greed, can we still hold onto our last bit of integrity?

Next Thursday, the judge will deliver closing arguments.

And humanity's right to define the future of AI may be quietly rewritten within these few pages of testimony.