Trending Now - Musk and Altman Face Off: Trust Issues Take Center Stage
WHO:
Wired - Elon Musk and Sam Altman are the primary individuals involved in the trial.
Associated Press - Lawyers representing Musk and OpenAI are also involved in the proceedings.
WHAT:
The Ringer - The jury will return Monday to deliberate on the case after hearing closing arguments on Thursday.
The Ringer - Musk's lawsuit alleges that Altman and Greg Brockman corrupted OpenAI's original nonprofit mission.
The Ringer - Altman described Musk's social media post in 2020 as having "wounded" him.
The Ringer - Altman stated he was in a "fog of war" during the leadership uncertainty at OpenAI, fearing chaos for the organization he loved.
The Ringer - Altman referred to the board's decision to fire him as a "governance failure," acknowledging their legal ability to do so but stating it "didn't quite work."
The Ringer - Altman testified that he was willing to "run back into a burning building to try to save" OpenAI.
The Ringer - The trial has led to thousands of text messages, email chains, and diary entries being entered into the public record.
The Ringer - A congressional committee is reportedly looking into Altman’s conduct and investments.
The Ringer - Musk made a late overture to settle the lawsuit out of court before jury selection began, which Altman and Brockman refused.
The Ringer - Sam Altman testified that during a meeting in 2018, Musk was excited about OpenAI's progress and shared memes on his phone, describing it as a "good-vibes meeting."
The Ringer - Altman recalled that in 2020, Musk sent out a social media post denigrating OpenAI, prompting Altman to seek advice from Shivon Zilis on how to engage Musk to reduce negative comments on Twitter.
The Ringer - Altman described the chaotic period known as "The Blip," when he was fired by OpenAI's board in November 2023 and later rehired by a new board.
The Ringer - Altman stated he felt he was in a "fog of war" during the leadership uncertainty at OpenAI, expressing concern that it would "cause chaos for a thing that I love very much."
The Ringer - Altman referred to the board's decision to fire him as a "governance failure," stating that while they had the legal ability to do so, it "didn't quite work."
Techmeme - Musk's attorney reiterated claims of Altman's untrustworthiness during closing arguments, while OpenAI's lawyer maintained that Musk has no evidence to support his allegations.
The Verge - During the trial, a trophy inscribed with “Never stop being a jackass” was referenced, which was a commemoration bought by OpenAI employees for researcher Josh Achiam, who testified in the trial.
The Verge - Musk denied an incident where he allegedly called Achiam a jackass, stating he might have said something like, “Don’t be a jackass.”
Wired - A federal jury is deciding the outcome of Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman.
Associated Press - In closing arguments, Musk's attorney claimed Altman is untrustworthy, while OpenAI's lawyer stated Musk has no evidence to support his claims.
WHERE:
Wired - The trial is taking place in a federal court.
WHEN:
Associated Press - The closing arguments occurred on a Thursday.
WHY:
The Ringer - Altman claimed Musk's lawsuit is based on self-interest and that the company evolved to compete with larger entities like Google's DeepMind.
Associated Press - The trial's outcome could significantly influence the future of artificial intelligence.
HOW:
The Ringer - Thousands of text messages, email chains, and diary entries have been entered into the public record as part of the trial proceedings.
Associated Press - The trial involves legal arguments presented by both parties regarding trustworthiness and evidence.
(UPDATED May 16, 2026 01:30 UTC)
The jury is set to return Monday to deliberate on the case involving President Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, which claims they corrupted OpenAI's original nonprofit mission. During the trial, Altman described Musk's 2020 social media post as having "wounded" him and referred to his firing as a "governance failure," while expressing his willingness to "run back into a burning building" to save the organization he loves. Additionally, a congressional committee is reportedly investigating Altman’s conduct and investments, and Musk attempted to settle the lawsuit out of court before jury selection, a move that Altman and Brockman declined.
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(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:26 UTC)
In a recent testimony, Sam Altman recounted a meeting in 2018 where Elon Musk was enthusiastic about OpenAI's progress, sharing memes and calling it a "good-vibes meeting." However, by 2020, Musk's tone shifted dramatically, leading Altman to seek advice on how to mitigate Musk's negative comments about OpenAI on social media. Altman also described the tumultuous period known as "The Blip," when he was fired and then rehired by OpenAI's board, labeling the board's decision as a "governance failure" that ultimately didn't work out as intended.
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(UPDATED May 15, 2026 13:28 UTC)
During closing arguments, Musk's attorney emphasized claims of Altman's untrustworthiness, while OpenAI's lawyer countered that Musk lacks evidence to back up his allegations. The courtroom drama continues to unfold as both sides present their cases. This high-profile legal battle is drawing significant attention in the tech community.
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(UPDATED May 15, 2026 06:14 UTC)
During the ongoing trial, a trophy inscribed with the phrase “Never stop being a jackass” was brought up, which was a gift from OpenAI employees to researcher Josh Achiam, who provided testimony. In response to the trophy's mention, Musk denied ever calling Achiam a jackass, claiming he may have said something along the lines of, “Don’t be a jackass.” This exchange highlights the tensions surrounding the case and the personalities involved.
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(UPDATED May 15, 2026 01:36 UTC)
A federal jury is currently deliberating the outcome of a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk against OpenAI and Sam Altman in a federal court. During the closing arguments, Musk's attorney argued that Altman is untrustworthy, while the lawyer for OpenAI contended that Musk lacks evidence to back his claims. The outcome of this trial could have a significant impact on the future of artificial intelligence.