Elon Musk's Legal Team Claims He Doesn't Use a Computer, Contradicting Public Evidence

Elon Musk, often hailed as the “Techno King” and a leading innovator of our time, has a surprising revelation: he doesn’t own a computer. This information emerged not from a biography or a tell-all interview but from a legal filing in the intense lawsuit between Musk and OpenAI, a case currently unfolding in a Northern California courtroom where the future of artificial intelligence is at stake. On June 22, Musk’s legal team, led by Toberoff & Associates, filed a letter disputing OpenAI’s claim that they were failing to turn over relevant documents. In their rebuttal, Musk’s lawyers stated, “Mr. Musk does not use a computer.” However, this assertion is at odds with public evidence and Musk’s own social media posts, suggesting it may be more of a legal strategy than a factual statement. Musk’s legal team made this claim while pushing back against accusations of withholding documents during the discovery phase of the lawsuit. They argued that the allegations were incorrect and used the "no computer" angle to imply a limited availability of electronic records. However, employees at X (formerly known as Twitter) have reported that Musk primarily works from his phone but can occasionally be seen using a laptop. Contradicting his legal team's claims, Musk has referenced having a computer in his public communications. In a December 2024 post on X, he shared an image captioned, “This is a pic of my laptop,” explaining that he was testing Starlink’s streaming capabilities during a flight. Similarly, in a May 2025 reply, Musk mentioned, “Still using my ancient PC laptop with the @DOGE sticker made long ago by a fan.” Both instances suggest that Musk does indeed use a computer, albeit infrequently or with a specific purpose in mind. The context of the Musk v. Altman lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to this claim. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, now positions himself as the company’s fiercest critic, accusing CEO Sam Altman of deviating from their original mission and selling out to Microsoft. OpenAI, in turn, portrays Musk as a disgruntled ex-partner attempting to meddle with a company he voluntarily left. The “no computer” claim seems to be a tactic to narrow the scope of discoverable documents, potentially limiting the amount of digital evidence that could be used against him. This revelation highlights the contentious nature of the legal battle, a proxy war over the direction and ownership of AI technology. The case has already been marked by serious charges of corporate betrayal and billions of dollars in secrets. Yet, the bizarre assertion that one of the world’s most prominent tech figures eschews one of the most essential tools of the digital age has overshadowed the substantive issues, turning the spotlight to this peculiar aspect of Musk’s personal habits and business strategies. While the "no computer" claim may seem like a minor quirk, it underscores the lengths to which both parties are willing to go to gain an advantage in court. For Musk, this could be a strategic move to minimize the evidence against him, but it also risks appearing disingenuous when contrasted with his own prior statements and observed behaviors. As the legal drama continues, the focus will likely return to the core issues of governance and ethics in AI development, but for now, this curious detail has added a new and unlikely twist to the proceedings.