Musk v. Altman trial: OpenAI execs use $120 Purple butt cushions

In a trial that has stretched nearly three weeks, the courtroom of Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers has become a showcase of ergonomic improvisation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, general counsel Che Chang, and about ten others on the defense side have been relying on thick black cushions—the plushest from brand Purple, retailing at $120 from Target. President Greg Brockman and his wife Anna have used pristine white pillows from Coop ($35 for a two-pack). An OpenAI bodyguard even carried a purple handbag with pillows for the Brockmans, with Anna passing one to her husband after letting him suffer for a minute. The courtroom artist and a New York Times reporter have also adopted cushions.

The discomfort is real: wooden benches seat up to 90 people, and the trial's duration far exceeds typical proceedings. A longtime technology lawyer noted cushions aren't customary but acknowledged the trial's length justifies them. WIRED's reporter tried a thin Tokyo Olympics cooling cushion but found it inadequate, switching back after four hours. Meanwhile, Microsoft's $100 billion+ investment in OpenAI was revealed during testimony. The need for cushions underscores the physical toll of high-stakes tech litigation, with the judge set to hear penalty arguments next week.