Jurors in Musk-Altman Case Dislike Elon Musk
▼ Summary
– Jury selection for Musk v. Altman began in Oakland federal court, with some jurors expressing concerns about Musk and AI but pledging impartiality.
– Nine jurors were chosen, including a painter, a former Lockheed Martin employee, and a psychiatrist, all stating outside opinions would not affect their judgment.
– The jury’s verdict will be advisory; Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will make the final decision on whether OpenAI’s leaders improperly diverted the nonprofit from its mission.
– Outside the courtroom, Elon Musk promoted a critical article about Sam Altman on X, while OpenAI accused Musk of undermining its work, and protesters called for a pause on AI development.
– Opening statements and the first witness are scheduled for Tuesday, with OpenAI’s attorney expressing confidence in presenting the truth to the jury.
A jury was selected Monday in the first day of the Musk v. Altman trial, held in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California. While several of the chosen jurors voiced personal reservations about Elon Musk and the artificial intelligence technology central to the case, each assured the court they could set aside those opinions and remain impartial. The trial’s opening also triggered a flurry of activity outside the courthouse.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman were spotted going through security this morning, though Elon Musk was notably absent. Dozens of journalists crowded into an overflow room to listen to an audio feed of the proceedings.
The day’s objective was to seat nine jurors capable of fairness in a case involving some of the most recognizable figures in tech. Multiple potential jurors admitted to having negative views of Musk when questioned by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and the attorneys. However, that alone did not disqualify them; only one person was dismissed due to strongly held negative opinions about the billionaire.
“The reality is that many people don’t like him,” Gonzalez Rogers told the courtroom. She expressed confidence that Americans with unfavorable views of Musk could still approach the judicial process with integrity and decide the case fairly. The jury will help determine whether Sam Altman and other defendants improperly shifted OpenAI’s nonprofit away from its original mission, potentially breaking the law. But their verdict is advisory,Gonzalez Rogers will make the final decision.
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The nine selected jurors form a diverse group, including a painter, a former Lockheed Martin employee, and a psychiatrist. Some expressed negative opinions about artificial intelligence more broadly. Still, all promised the court that their personal views on Musk and AI would not influence their ability to weigh the facts.
OpenAI’s attorney William Savitt said at a press briefing afterward that he was pleased with the jury.
“Mr. Altman, Mr. Brockman, and OpenAI are looking forward to presenting their case to that jury. They’re confident in their position and are looking forward to the facts being known,” Savitt told reporters. “The hurdle we think we need to get over is just to present the truth here. We’ve got a story about what happened that is consistent with the facts, it’s consistent with the documents, and we just want the jury to see that.”
Musk is already trying to sway public opinion. On Monday morning, he used his social media platform X to promote a recent New Yorker investigation into Altman’s alleged deceptive business practices. The story is weeks old, and Musk’s timing is no accident. Earlier that morning, OpenAI’s official newsroom account posted on X, calling Musk’s lawsuit an “attempt to undermine our work to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity.” Outside the courthouse, demonstrators protested the AI race and called for a halt to further development.
On Tuesday, lawyers for both sides will deliver opening statements, and the first witness will take the stand.
This is an edition of Maxwell Zeff’s Model Behavior newsletter. Read previous editions here.
(Source: Wired)
