OpenAI Accuses xAI of Evidence Destruction in Antitrust Case

OpenAI Levels Serious Allegation Against xAI: Evidence Destruction Claims

OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company, has made a serious legal accusation against rival firm xAI. OpenAI has filed a court petition alleging that Elon Musk's xAI 'systematically and intentionally destroyed evidence' in connection with an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. This development has further complicated the ongoing legal battle between the two technology giants.

According to documents submitted by OpenAI to the court, xAI is accused of destroying critical electronic data allegedly directly related to the lawsuit. The company argues that xAI's actions were intended to undermine the fair trial process and constitute a challenge to the court's authority. Evidence destruction allegations are considered particularly serious in major technology cases, as they can fundamentally undermine legal proceedings.

Case History and Party Positions

The legal tension between OpenAI and xAI (and consequently Elon Musk) is not new. Previously, Elon Musk's $134 billion compensation lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft had created significant industry repercussions. Musk had claimed that OpenAI had deviated from its founding purpose and betrayed its original open-source mission by transforming into a profit-oriented structure. OpenAI vehemently denied these allegations, stating that Musk had taken his own emails out of context and that no written founding agreement existed.

According to Musk's claims, OpenAI was originally established as a non-profit research laboratory but drifted from its core principles following its strategic partnership with Microsoft. OpenAI's counterargument suggested that Musk actually wanted to tie the company to his controlled Tesla entity and resorted to litigation when he failed to achieve this. A development in early 2026 had changed the course of this complex lawsuit.

Legal Dimensions of Evidence Destruction Allegations

OpenAI's recent evidence destruction claims introduce significant legal complexities to the ongoing antitrust proceedings. Legal experts note that systematic evidence destruction, if proven, could lead to severe sanctions including adverse inference instructions, monetary penalties, or even case dismissal motions. The timing of these allegations coincides with critical discovery phases in the broader antitrust litigation, suggesting strategic positioning by both parties.

The technology industry is closely monitoring how these allegations will impact not only the immediate case but also broader AI governance discussions. With both companies developing advanced AI systems including next-generation models like GPT-5, the legal outcomes could influence competitive dynamics and regulatory approaches across the artificial intelligence sector. The court's response to these serious allegations will likely set important precedents for technology law and corporate accountability in AI development.