The finale of the Musk vs. OpenAI trial: the "donkey" trophy and Hoffman's testimony

In a San Francisco courtroom on May 14, 2026, the final chapter of a months-long standoff unfolded, where personal emotions and corporate decisions intertwined with the future of artificial intelligence.

Sam Altman (left) and Elon Musk. Getty Images, businessinsider

Three weeks of testimony in Elon Musk's case against OpenAI have come to an end. Jurors have heard about tense conversations, a golden trophy and unexpected references to Reid Hoffman. A case that could shape the entire field of artificial intelligence is nearing a verdict.

The last day of testimony: how it all ended

On May 14, 2026, OpenAI completed its case. The company's lawyers called several top executives who described why the partnership with Microsoft was the only possible way to survive in the face of fierce competition from Google and Anthropic. Jurors learned that without the multi-billion dollar investment, OpenAI would not have been able to create ChatGPT and become a leader.

Closing arguments are scheduled for the morning of May 15, after which the jury will begin deliberations. Musk accuses Sam Altman and Greg Brockman of “stealing” the charity they founded in 2015. OpenAI insists the lawsuit is motivated by jealousy, and Musk himself left the company in 2018 after failing to establish control.

The Jackass Trophy and a Tense Exchange of Thoughts

The most telling witness of the day was Joshua Achiam, OpenAI’s chief futurist. He recounted a 2018 company-wide meeting where Musk explained his decision to leave the company. At the time, Musk said he planned to build his own AI system and do it as quickly as possible, fearing that someone else would misuse the technology.

Achiam dared to object, calling Musk’s approach “dangerous and reckless.” Musk responded by calling the futurist a “jackass.” In memory of the dispute, colleagues presented Achiam with a small gold trophy with the inscription “never stop being a jackass for safety.” Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers did not allow the trophy to be shown to the jury, but the story has already become one of the most quoted in the media.

Experts and billions of dollars of value

The parties presented conflicting expert opinions on whether the Microsoft partnership harmed OpenAI’s nonprofit mission. Musk’s expert argued that the deal was damaging. OpenAI expert John Coates, however, used the same chart to show that the partnership created value for the nonprofit in the region of $200 billion. “If that’s not a success, I don’t know what is,” Coates said.

Reid Hoffman and doubts within Microsoft

Jurors also heard from a 2018 email from Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, in which Scott expressed concerns about how early OpenAI donors, including Reid Hoffman, would react to the move to a commercial model. “I wonder if OpenAI’s big donors are aware of these plans,” Scott wrote. He later clarified that he was referring to Hoffman, not Musk.

Videos and the position of former leaders

OpenAI lawyers used excerpts of video depositions previously shown by Musk's lawyers. Former board member Tasha McCauley and former CTO Mira Murati confirmed that the partnership with Microsoft was consistent with the company's mission. Murati responded bluntly that the investment did not give Microsoft excessive control over OpenAI.

What happens next

After closing arguments on May 15, the jury will begin deliberations. The decision could affect not only the fate of OpenAI, but also the rules of the game for all the big players in artificial intelligence. The trial is still ongoing, and details of the final day of testimony have already leaked around the world.