WorkThe story, in brief
Microsoft feared being too dependent on OpenAI, Musk-Altman trial testimony reveals
Microsoft's biggest fear about OpenAI wasn't competition—it was dependence. Trial testimony just revealed why.
The KeyNews take
Why it matters
Microsoft executives' candid courtroom testimony exposes internal strategic vulnerabilities in their OpenAI partnership and reveals how vendor lock-in concerns shaped one of tech's most consequential deals. This is the kind of calculus leaders need to understand when building AI infrastructure bets.
The key facts
4 to knowMicrosoft executives testified in Musk v. Altman trial
Early partnership concerns centered on over-reliance on OpenAI
Trial testimony provides rare window into Microsoft's strategic thinking on vendor dependency
Testimony week: May 13, 2026
Go to the source
CNBC Technologycnbc.com
Publisher excerpt: Top Microsoft executives testified in Musk v. Altman this week, spelling out concerns they had in the early days of the partnership with OpenAI.