OpenAI trial wraps up with testimony about Reid Hoffman, a trophy, and a Musk outburst

The Musk v. Altman trial reached its final testimony day on Wednesday, wrapping up three weeks of evidence in a case that could reshape the AI industry. OpenAI’s chief futurist, Joshua Achiam, testified about a tense 2018 meeting where Elon Musk announced his departure from the company and his intent to build a competing AI project quickly. Achiam challenged Musk’s approach as 'unsafe and reckless,' prompting Musk to snap and call him a 'jackass' during the companywide gathering. To support Achiam’s account, OpenAI’s lawyers presented a trophy—a small golden jackass statue inscribed with 'never stop being a jackass for safety'—given to him by colleagues Dario Amodei and David Luan. However, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers excluded the trophy as evidence, preventing it from being shown to the jury. The trial hinges on whether OpenAI’s $13 billion partnership with Microsoft, which Musk opposes, 'looted' the nonprofit they co-founded in 2015. OpenAI has argued the deal was necessary to compete with rivals like Google and Anthropic, while Musk claims it was driven by greed. Testimony highlighted Microsoft’s role in funding OpenAI’s growth, with executives describing the partnership as essential for survival. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday morning, followed by jury deliberations. The case centers on allegations that Sam Altman and Greg Brockman betrayed Musk’s vision for OpenAI, with OpenAI’s legal team framing Musk’s claims as motivated by 'jealousy' after his 2018 exit. The outcome could have lasting implications for AI governance and corporate accountability in Silicon Valley.