OpenAI researcher gets 'jackass' trophy in Musk-Altman trial
OpenAI employees gifted Josh Achiam a trophy inscribed 'Never stop being a jackass.'
In a bizarre courtroom moment during the Musk v. Altman trial, OpenAI's legal team produced a small league-style trophy — a commemoration from employees to research scientist Josh Achiam, who testified the day before. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers had the lawyers read the inscription aloud for the press: 'Never stop being a jackass.' The trophy stems from an alleged 2018 encounter where Elon Musk, then departing OpenAI, discussed racing ahead of Google in AI. Achiam, focused on safety, reportedly asked if that was wise, prompting Musk to call him a jackass.
Musk's current lawsuit portrays him as a safety crusader seeking to prevent AI harm. Altman's team used the trophy to suggest Musk's past behavior contradicts that narrative. During direct testimony, Musk denied the incident, claiming he might have said 'Don't be a jackass' instead. The judge ruled jurors could not see the trophy unless Musk's team gave OpenAI a reason to introduce it, so only the press and gallery heard about it. The trophy remains a viral symbol of the personal tensions underlying the high-stakes legal battle over OpenAI's future.
- OpenAI employees gave researcher Josh Achiam a trophy inscribed 'Never stop being a jackass'.
- The trophy references a 2018 incident where Elon Musk allegedly called Achiam a jackass for questioning rapid AI development.
- Jurors did not see the trophy due to a court ruling, but it was read aloud to undermine Musk's safety-focused lawsuit narrative.
Why It Matters
The trophy anecdote undermines Musk's claim of suing OpenAI to prevent AI harm, revealing past personal tensions.