After three weeks of heated testimony, the landmark lawsuit filed by Elon Musk against the co-founders of OpenAI is approaching its conclusion, with jury deliberations expected to begin Monday. The trial has offered a rare glimpse into the power struggles, personal tensions, and ethical debates at the heart of Silicon Valley’s AI revolution. Four pivotal moments stood out:

Musk’s Naivety

At the April 28 opening, Musk cast himself as a visionary betrayed by his own generosity. He recounted founding OpenAI in 2015, funding it with $38 million, and later regretting what he called “idiotic” naivety as the company grew into an $800 billion giant. His frustration boiled over as he accused OpenAI’s lawyers of trying to trap him with questions.

Altman’s Counterattack

On May 12, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman finally took the stand. Calm but firm, he accused Musk of demanding near-total control in 2017, including 90% of the company’s equity. Altman argued that no single person should wield unchecked power over artificial general intelligence, framing Musk’s demands as a threat to the mission itself.

Brockman’s Journals

Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president, became a central figure when his old notebooks were introduced as evidence. They revealed ambitions for wealth and independence from Musk, including musings about converting OpenAI into a benefit corporation. Though Musk’s lawyers painted the notes as morally questionable, Brockman defended them, recalling a tense 2017 confrontation where Musk stormed out after removing a Tesla painting from the wall. Today, Brockman’s stake is valued at $30 billion.

Zilis in the Spotlight

Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member and mother of four of Musk’s children, drew intense attention when she testified on May 6. Accused of acting as Musk’s mole, she offered clipped, sometimes sarcastic answers, acknowledging “romantic moments” with Musk but downplaying her influence. Her private messages to both Musk and Altman may prove decisive, potentially undermining Musk’s claim that he was blindsided by OpenAI’s direction.