Some Jurors in the Musk v. Altman Case Have Unfavorable Opinions About Elon Musk

A jury has been formed on Monday during the initial day of the trial for Musk v. Altman in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California. Some of the selected jurors expressed concerns regarding Musk himself and the AI technology central to the case but reassured the court they would set these concerns aside for the duration of the trial. The proceedings also sparked a variety of antics outside the courtroom.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman were seen in the security line at the courthouse this morning, while Elon Musk was absent. A handful of journalists filled an overflow room to listen to an audio feed of the trial.

The objective for the day was to secure nine jurors who could be fair and impartial in this case—an especially challenging task given that the main figures are among the most renowned tech executives globally. During questioning by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and attorneys, several potential jurors expressed negative views regarding Musk. However, this didn’t necessarily rule them out; only one juror was ultimately dismissed due to particularly strong negative sentiments towards Musk.

“The reality is that many people don’t like him,” Gonzalez Rogers informed the courtroom. She also noted that she believed individuals with negative feelings about Musk could still possess integrity in the judicial process and adjudicate the case justly. The jury will be responsible for establishing the fundamental facts relating to whether Sam Altman and other defendants improperly diverted OpenAI’s nonprofit initiative from its original mission, potentially breaching the law. However, their verdict will be advisory—Gonzalez Rogers will have the final decision.

The nine jurors ultimately chosen represent a diverse array, including a painter, a former Lockheed Martin employee, and a psychiatrist. Some expressed negative opinions regarding artificial intelligence technology in general. Nevertheless, all selected jurors assured the court that their external opinions about Musk and AI would not cloud their judgment on the facts of the case.

OpenAI’s attorney William Savitt stated at a press briefing afterwards that he was pleased with the jury chosen by the court.

“Mr. Altman, Mr. Brockman, and OpenAI are eager to present their case to that jury. They’re confident in their position and look forward to revealing the facts,” Savitt remarked to reporters. “The challenge we need to overcome is to present the truth here. We’ve got a narrative about what happened that aligns 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 in his favor. On Monday morning, the billionaire utilized his social media platform X to promote a recent New Yorker investigation into Altman’s alleged dishonest business practices. The article is weeks old, and Musk’s choice to share it on the trial’s first day is not coincidental. Earlier in the day, OpenAI’s official newsroom account published a statement on X describing Musk’s lawsuit as an “attempt to undermine our efforts to ensure that artificial general intelligence serves all of humanity.” Meanwhile, demonstrators gathered outside the court to protest the AI race and advocate for a pause on further development.

On Tuesday, attorneys for OpenAI and Elon Musk will present their opening statements, and the first witness will be summoned to the stand.

This is an edition of Maxwell Zeff’s Model Behavior newsletter. Read previous newsletters here.