Man interrupting Elon Musk during 2018 OpenAI speech, raising concerns about artificial general intelligence (AGI) safety and

Editorial illustration for Achiam said he interrupted Musk's 2018 OpenAI speech to flag AGI safety concerns

Achiam said he interrupted Musk's 2018 OpenAI speech to...

Achiam said he interrupted Musk's 2018 OpenAI speech to flag AGI safety concerns

By AI Daily Post Edited by Brian Petersen, Editor-in-Chief

May 13, 2026 • Updated: May 16, 2026 • 2 min read

OpenAI’s case against Elon Musk took an odd turn on Wednesday when the company tried to bring a literal “ass” into the courtroom. Bradley Wilson, counsel for Sam Altman’s firm, handed U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers a small gold statue perched on a white stone base.

The figurine—an unmistakable donkey rear with two legs, a butt and a tail—bore the inscription, “Joshua Achiam, never stop being a jackass for safety.” Achiam, who joined OpenAI as an intern in 2017 and now heads its AI‑society research, testified that he interrupted Musk’s 2018 OpenAI farewell speech to warn that the billionaire’s push for AGI at Tesla might sacrifice safety. He recalled Musk snapping at him, calling him a “jackass.” Wilson argued the trophy corroborates that exchange; Musk’s lawyers called it irrelevant. Judge Gonzalez Rogers said she would decide whether to admit the object when the testimony references it.

Achiam testified on Wednesday that he interrupted Elon Musk's parting speech from OpenAI in 2018 to warn that the billionaire's desire to develop AGI at Tesla could come at the expense of safety. Wilson added that the trophy commemorates some "strong language" that Musk used toward Achiam in response--allegedly, calling him a jackass. "He snapped and called me a jackass," Achiam said, describing the remark as tense and unfriendly.

OpenAI initially requested to present the physical object during Achiam's testimony, arguing that it adds to their case. While Musk's team said the statue was irrelevant, Judge Gonzalez Rogers said she would consider allowing it when it's referenced to corroborate the story.

OpenAI Brings Its Ass to Court - WIRED AI

Why this matters

Achiam’s interruption of Musk’s 2018 OpenAI remarks underscores a tension that has lingered since the early days of commercial AI ambition. We see a reminder that safety concerns were raised publicly, even as the industry pursued rapid progress. The courtroom drama—complete with a gold donkey‑ass statue—adds a theatrical layer, but it also signals that legal strategies may now incorporate symbolic gestures to frame narratives about corporate responsibility.

If the trophy truly commemorates “strong language” exchanged, it suggests that disagreements over safety have been both personal and public. For developers and founders, the episode raises a question: how will internal dissent be documented and possibly leveraged in future disputes? Researchers must note that, while the trial’s theatrics are unusual, the core issue—whether AGI pursuits can coexist with rigorous safety protocols—remains unresolved.

It is unclear whether this public airing will influence policy or merely become a footnote in the broader debate, but the moment invites us to scrutinize how safety arguments are treated when legal stakes rise.