Elon Musk pressured OpenAI leaders to cut a deal on the eve of their high-profile court battle \u2013 warning cofounder Greg Brockman that he and Sam Altman were about to become the \u201cthe most hated men in America,\u201d according to a new court filing.<\/p>\n
Musk, who alleges that OpenAI violated its non-profit mission in a multibillion-dollar lawsuit<\/a>, texted Brockman two days before the trial began to \u201cgauge interest in settlement,\u201d OpenAI\u2019s attorneys stated in the filing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen Mr. Brockman responded with a suggestion that both sides drop their respective claims, Mr. Musk shot back: \u2018By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America. If you insist, so it will be,\u2019\u201d the filing says<\/a>.<\/p>\n OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (right) and Greg Brockman, OpenAI president and co-founder arrive at the federal courthouse. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n In the filing, OpenAI\u2019s legal team argues that Musk\u2019s texts to Brockman lend to support to one of their core arguments \u2013 that Musk, as the founder of xAI, is trying to jam up a rival company rather than pursue a legitimate grievance.<\/p>\n OpenAI said the texts and \u201csimilar menacing statements Mr. Musk has made in litigation\u201d should be admissible in court and signaled they could ask Brockman about it when he is called to testify.<\/p>\n \u201cIt tends to prove motive and bias, and, in particular, that Mr. Musk\u2019s motivation in pursuing this lawsuit is to attack a competitor and its principals,\u201d the filing said.<\/p>\n Representatives for Musk and OpenAI did not immediately return requests for comment.<\/p>\n Musk was the first witness called after the bombshell trial began last Tuesday and testified for three days in California federal court. The Tesla and SpaceX boss told jurors that he was a \u201cfool\u201d to trust Altman with the future of OpenAI and repeatedly said variations of the phrase. \u201cyou just can\u2019t steal from a charity.\u201d<\/p>\n OpenAI\u2019s President Gregory Brockman departs court last week. Getty Images<\/p>\n