A federal court filing from Elon Musk’s legal team claims he “does not use a computer,” a controversial assertion aimed at limiting evidence discovery in an ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI.
At a Glance
- Musk’s lawyers claimed in court filings he exclusively uses his phone and email—no computers.
- Previous social media posts by Musk clearly reference his use of laptops.
- OpenAI accuses Musk of non-compliance with discovery requests.
- Musk himself mentioned purchasing laptops in 2024.
- Employees at X (formerly Twitter) observed Musk routinely using desktops and laptops.
Musk’s Surprising Legal Strategy
The controversial assertion emerged in the high-profile xAI vs. OpenAI lawsuit, filed in June 2025. Musk’s legal team told the court that discovery should be restricted because Musk “does not use a computer,” implying that only his phone and email are relevant for subpoena, according to The Daily Beast.
Yet Musk’s own social media undermines this narrative. In December 2024, Musk tweeted an image of his laptop with a custom sticker, writing, “This is a pic of my laptop… A guy in Germany gave me this cool sticker.” Again in May 2025, he posted about still using his “ancient PC laptop with the @DOGE sticker,” as reported by Wired.
Watch a report: Elon Musk Claims He Doesn’t Use Computers—Why Now?.
Fact vs Fiction in the Courtroom
Observers have questioned the filing’s accuracy, noting that multiple X (formerly Twitter) employees have seen Musk working on laptops and desktops during daily operations, according to Wired. Musk also posted in early 2024 about frustrations while setting up a new laptop due to mandatory Microsoft account requirements, further documented by Wired.
By attempting to limit discovery, Musk’s legal team could be trying to restrict OpenAI’s access to potentially revealing internal documents. If the court finds this claim knowingly false, it could open Musk’s side to accusations of bad faith or even sanctions.
The filing raises broader questions about transparency in tech litigation—and whether public figures can credibly claim tech habits that contradict their own online records.
