Silicon Valley's seedy side exposed - and four other things we learned in the Musk-Altman trial

The trial could not be streamed in video, with early audio issues later addressed by the judge. The ultimate decision rests with the jury and Judge Gonzalez Rogers to determine the outcome, after which a ruling will follow on which side prevails.

The proceedings highlighted alleged strategies to secure loyalty and influence, including claims that free Teslas were offered and that payments to key partners were made off the books—described in the coverage as Musk's and Altman's alleged tactics to maintain control and loyalty within OpenAI's ecosystem.

Musk acknowledged his relationship with Shivon Zilis, saying, 'We live together and she's the mother of four of my children.' Zilis, a Neuralink executive and OpenAI board member, later reportedly did not disclose to colleagues that he would become the father of her children until media reports emerged.

Sketch artist Vicki Behringer provided daily water-coloured renditions of the proceedings, offering a visual chronicle of the high-profile testimony and exchanges for readers.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers presided over the proceedings, enforcing a strict schedule with only two twenty-minute breaks per day and no lunch period to keep participants alert; she reprimanded those who broke rules and quipped about the court's funding when audio issues arose.

Jurors heard about Altman's investments in private start-ups and a power purchasing agreement with Helion Energy. Altman was, until recently, Helion's chairman and holds a stake worth more than $1.5 billion; Helion has yet to deliver power, which raised questions about potential conflicts.

In the run-up to the trial, Ronan Farrow's New Yorker profile portrayed Altman as a 'pathological liar.' During cross-examination, Altman was asked, 'Are you completely trustworthy?' and he replied, 'I believe so.'

Satya Nadella testified that Microsoft conducted extensive due diligence before investing billions into OpenAI; Microsoft is a co-defendant in the case, accused by Musk of aiding and abetting Altman's alleged scheme.

A parade of witnesses, including OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever, former OpenAI board member Tasha McCauley, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, testified they had never heard or seen evidence of Musk's claimed commitment to OpenAI's non-profit status.

As the jury retired to deliberate, Elon Musk's central claim remained that Sam Altman lied about OpenAI's non-profit status. The article frames the moment as the jury turning to consider the broader dispute, with the core question focused on Altman's alleged commitment to OpenAI's nonprofit status and Musk's claim of deception.