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Elon Musk sent ominous texts to Greg Brockman, Sam Altman after asking for a settlement, OpenAI claims

Elon Musk texted OpenAI execs they'd become 'the most hated men in America.' Here's what the settlement demand reveals about the AI power struggle.

Reporting by TechCrunch AI 1 min brief
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The KeyNews take

Why it matters

Leaked communications expose escalating tensions between Musk and OpenAI leadership over the company's direction and capitalization, signaling deeper fractures in AI's power structure as the legal dispute intensifies.

The key facts

9 to know

  1. Musk sent texts to Greg Brockman and Sam Altman

  2. Message content: 'will be the most hated men in America'

  3. Settlement demand preceded the ominous texts

  4. Source: OpenAI's public claims about private communications

  5. Date: May 4, 2026

  6. Musk texted Brockman and Altman claiming they 'will be the most hated men in America'

  7. Messages sent after failed settlement discussions

  8. Claimed by OpenAI (source: internal/legal disclosure, not independently verified)

  9. Reflects ongoing Musk vs. OpenAI conflict over company direction and non-profit status

Go to the source

TechCrunch AItechcrunch.com

Publisher excerpt: Musk texted OpenAI's president and co-founder saying that he and CEO Sam Altman "will be the most hated men in America."
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