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Musk-OpenAI lawsuit: Federal jury hears of corporate fracture as final witnesses testify
May 18, 2026
📍 Philadelphia, PA, USA
⚖️🤖 The dramatic courtroom battle between [OpenAI](https://openai.com/) and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is nearing its final stage, revealing explosive details about internal tensions, power struggles, and disagreements over AI safety that shaped the future of the artificial intelligence industry.
During the latest federal court proceedings, jurors heard testimony from OpenAI Chief Futurist Joshua Achiam, who described a heated 2018 company meeting where Musk allegedly warned employees that Tesla would soon compete directly with OpenAI for top engineering talent. According to Achiam, Musk pushed aggressively toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), fearing rival companies could reach the technology first and misuse it.
Achiam testified that he challenged Musk during the meeting, arguing the timeline and strategy were unsafe and “reckless.” He told jurors that Musk became irritated and called him a “jackass” in front of employees. The moment later became an inside joke at OpenAI, with colleagues reportedly presenting Achiam a trophy featuring a golden jackass and the phrase, “Never stop being a jackass for safety.” Although the unusual trophy was shown in court, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers declined to formally admit it into evidence.
The lawsuit centers on Musk’s claims that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission and transformed into a profit-driven AI giant closely tied to [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com). OpenAI argues the lawsuit stems from Musk’s frustration after he failed to gain greater control over the organization years ago.
OpenAI also introduced testimony from former CTO Mira Murati and former board member Tasha McCauley, both of whom reportedly defended the company’s decision to pursue massive outside investments due to the enormous computing and infrastructure costs required to build advanced AI systems.
As the closely watched legal showdown approaches closing arguments, the case is increasingly being viewed as more than just a corporate dispute — it has become a defining battle over AI governance, safety, corporate power, and who will shape the future of artificial intelligence worldwide. 🚀⚡
During the latest federal court proceedings, jurors heard testimony from OpenAI Chief Futurist Joshua Achiam, who described a heated 2018 company meeting where Musk allegedly warned employees that Tesla would soon compete directly with OpenAI for top engineering talent. According to Achiam, Musk pushed aggressively toward achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), fearing rival companies could reach the technology first and misuse it.
Achiam testified that he challenged Musk during the meeting, arguing the timeline and strategy were unsafe and “reckless.” He told jurors that Musk became irritated and called him a “jackass” in front of employees. The moment later became an inside joke at OpenAI, with colleagues reportedly presenting Achiam a trophy featuring a golden jackass and the phrase, “Never stop being a jackass for safety.” Although the unusual trophy was shown in court, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers declined to formally admit it into evidence.
The lawsuit centers on Musk’s claims that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission and transformed into a profit-driven AI giant closely tied to [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com). OpenAI argues the lawsuit stems from Musk’s frustration after he failed to gain greater control over the organization years ago.
OpenAI also introduced testimony from former CTO Mira Murati and former board member Tasha McCauley, both of whom reportedly defended the company’s decision to pursue massive outside investments due to the enormous computing and infrastructure costs required to build advanced AI systems.
As the closely watched legal showdown approaches closing arguments, the case is increasingly being viewed as more than just a corporate dispute — it has become a defining battle over AI governance, safety, corporate power, and who will shape the future of artificial intelligence worldwide. 🚀⚡
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