Claim, counter-claim and tech's seedy side exposed: Five things we learned in the Musk-Altman trial

The trial pitting Elon Musk against Sam Altman has captivated the tech world, with the future of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and the reputations of its CEO and co-founder hanging in the balance. At the heart of the lawsuit is Musk's claim that Altman lied to him about OpenAI's non-profit status, allegedly cheating him out of a fortune. Altman vehemently denies this.

Over three weeks, the federal court in California heard testimony from a parade of witnesses, including OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, former OpenAI board member Tasha McCauley, and Microsoft boss Satya Nadella. Many of these high-profile figures contradicted Musk's claims, saying they had never heard or seen evidence of any commitment from Musk to OpenAI's non-profit status. The trial also shed light on Altman's trustworthiness, with his character coming under scrutiny.

A blistering New Yorker magazine profile by Ronan Farrow portrayed Altman as a pathological liar, and Musk's lawyer Steven Molo seized on this during cross-examination. When asked if he was completely trustworthy, Altman initially responded with uncertainty before amending his answer to "yes". Jurors heard from former OpenAI board members and executives who described Altman's allegedly questionable behavior, including failing to be forthright about his extensive investments in private start-ups.

A power purchasing agreement with nuclear energy start-up Helion Energy was particularly concerning, given the firm's lack of delivery. Altman was, until recently, chairman of Helion's board and holds a stake worth over $1.5bn. The trial offered a glimpse into the inner workings of Silicon Valley's power dynamics, with Musk and Altman trading barbs and allegations.

Text messages revealed during the trial showed a frenzied Altman responding to his abrupt sacking in 2023, asking a former colleague if they still wanted him. The drama of the trial was brought to life by sketch artist Vicki Behringer, who captured the proceedings in watercolor splendor each day. The jury's decision and Judge Gonzalez Rogers' ultimate ruling will determine what happens next.