Meet the lawyer who beat Elon Musk — twice

Watching Elon Musk fulminate at Bill Savitt during Musk v. Altman - the case in which Musk sued Sam Altman and OpenAI instead of seeing a therapist about his AI failures - was a bit like watching a toddler have a temper tantrum at his nursery school teacher. Savitt's questions were "designed to trick me," Musk said.

He also told Savitt at one point, "You mostly do unfair questions." Savitt, who has the approximate demeanor of a handsome Droopy Dog, gently told Musk , "I am trying to put the questions as fairly as I can. I am doing my best." I've seen a number of styles of cross-examination. Savitt's was mild-mannered and soft-spoken; his questioning style seemed to be designed to draw out Musk's frustration.

Musk's outbursts during the trial have been widely reported, with many observers expressing surprise at his behavior. The case itself revolves around Musk's allegations against Sam Altman and OpenAI, which Musk co-founded. The reason this case matters extends beyond the personalities involved.

The outcome could have significant implications for the development and governance of AI. For developers and businesses working on AI projects, the case sets a precedent for how disputes over AI development and deployment might be handled. For consumers, it raises questions about who bears responsibility when AI systems fail or cause harm.

As AI becomes increasingly integral to our lives, the answers to these questions will have far-reaching consequences. What happens next will depend on the court's ruling, but one thing is clear: Elon Musk's behavior in this case has raised eyebrows, and it remains to be seen how his actions will impact the broader AI community.