Musk-Altman Trial: OpenAI at the Center of a Legal Battle

Week 1 of the Musk vs. Altman Trial: What Happened in the Courtroom

Two of the most powerful figures in AI—Sam Altman and Elon Musk—are at the center of a major legal showdown. Musk alleges that he was misled regarding the transformation of OpenAI into a for-profit entity. Our reporter Michelle Kim, who is also a lawyer, attended the court every day and summarized the key moments of the first week in her latest report. In a new Q&A session, she also reveals what happened in the courtroom, the new details that emerged about Musk and OpenAI's operations—and what we can expect from this week's proceedings. Discover what she has uncovered so far, and if you want to follow MIT Technology Review's ongoing coverage of the Musk vs. Altman trial, follow @techreview or @michelletomkim on X.

A Plan to Use AI to Strengthen Democracy

Andrew Sorota and Josh Hendler are leading the work on AI and democracy at Eric Schmidt's office. Faster than many realize, AI is becoming the primary interface through which we form our beliefs and engage in democratic self-governance. This shift could further test already fragile institutions, but it could also help address issues such as polarization and declining civic engagement. What happens next depends on the design choices that are already being made, whether we are aware of them or not. Here’s how we can harness AI to strengthen democracy.

Artificial Scientists: 10 Things That Matter in AI Right Now

Large language models can already assist scientists in various ways, from writing code to researching literature and drafting papers. But companies and labs have a much more ambitious vision. They aim to build AI systems capable of acting as full-fledged members of a scientific team—even leading entire research projects. These artificial scientists seem poised to be an asset for cutting-edge labs and for society as a whole. However, they could also restrict the scope of scientific inquiry. Read the full article on how artificial scientists could redefine the research process—and what might be lost along the way. Artificial scientists are featured on our list of the 10 things that matter in AI right now, MIT Technology Review's guide to what truly deserves your attention in the bustling world of AI. We unpack one item from the list each day here in The Download, so stay tuned.

Today's News

1. The Pentagon has finalized significant AI agreements for classified work. It has signed contracts with Microsoft, Nvidia, AWS, and Reflection AI. + It aims for the U.S. military to become an "AI-first" force. + The announcement leaves Anthropic increasingly isolated. + Here’s how companies might train on classified data.

2. Elon Musk has finally settled the SEC lawsuit regarding his Twitter purchase. He agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine for delaying the disclosure of his initial stock purchases. + However, he will not lose any of the $150 million he allegedly saved. + Musk reportedly concealed his growing stake in Twitter illegally.

3. A Chinese court ruled that companies cannot fire workers for AI-related reasons. They cannot terminate employee contracts simply to replace them with AI. + The court stated that a company had illegally dismissed one of its workers. + Chinese tech workers are beginning to train their AI doubles—and to rebel.

4. Gene therapy is helping deaf children hear again. In a trial, 80% of patients gained measurable hearing.

5. The White House is reviewing AI models before their release. It may create a new task force to oversee AI development. + A battle over AI regulation is coming to the United States.

6. Nature retracted a paper on the educational benefits of ChatGPT due to "discrepancies" and a lack of confidence in the results. + The paper had already accumulated hundreds of citations. + AI giants want to take control of the classroom.

7. GameStop made a $56 billion offer for eBay. eBay stated that it is reviewing the offer. + The bid has raised skepticism among investors and analysts.

8. AI systems are increasingly being used to monitor workers' emotions. New tools claim to measure "agreeableness" as well as productivity.

9. Peter Thiel is backing wave-powered data centers. He is leading a $140 million investment in a startup developing the technology.

10. Ask Jeeves is shutting down after nearly 30 years online. The closure marks the end of one of the early search engines on the Internet.

Quote of the Day

"By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America." —Elon Musk sent a warning message to OpenAI president Greg Brockman two days before the start of their legal battle, NBC News reports.

Meet the Divers Trying to Determine How Far Humans Can Go

At 230 meters deep in one of the Earth's deepest underwater caves, a team of extreme divers has tested a route toward new depth records: breathing hydrogen. They believe this gas could help the human body withstand underwater pressure far beyond its natural threshold. But this approach is highly experimental—and dangerous. Discover how far they are willing to go.

We Can Still Have Beautiful Things

A space for comfort, pleasure, and distraction to brighten your day. (Have ideas? Write to me.) + Wild horses roam in Spain for the first time in 10,000 years. + Star Wars meets the Renaissance in this bardcore cover of the "Imperial March." + Improve your writing by avoiding these six common linguistic pitfalls shared by many Americans. + From Stephen King's IT changing the clown industry to Black Widow boosting hair dye sales, here are 12 times movies changed the real world.