Casey Newton

These models are so weird.

It is so weird that we have this technology that is now load-bearing infrastructure for the entire economy.

That every business is using to completely reinvent the way that it works.

And that out of nowhere, if not specially restrained, it will just start talking about goblins.

What a world.

Those are a bunch of stories about OpenAI's strategic pivot, its reset.

But there is this other big variable here, this potential fly in the ointment, and that is the long-awaited Elon Musk trial that got underway in a federal courtroom in Oakland this week.

Casey, can you remind us what this case is about?

So the trial is just getting underway.

They've done jury selection and they've had a couple witnesses testify.

Elon Musk himself took the witness stand on Tuesday and said, quote, this lawsuit is very simple.

it is not okay to steal a charity.

He also said that if OpenAI is allowed to get away with this, quote, it will give license to looting every charity in America.

Basically, he is saying this thing that started as a nonprofit,

that was supposed to continue as a nonprofit became through some corporate restructurings, a for-profit company that has raised many billions of dollars, and that if this is legal to do, every charity would do this.

Why wouldn't you want to take your donors' money and turn yourself into a well-funded startup?

Yeah.

So Elon Musk is saying this is a case of looting a charity.

OpenAI's lawyers have accused Elon basically of just being bitter that the company has succeeded without him.

Its lead counsel, William Savitz, said during the trial, quote, we are here because Musk didn't get his way at OpenAI.