This week’s tech landscape has been dominated by two explosive narratives: the courtroom clash between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, and surprising revelations about Donald Trump’s stock trades. Beyond these headline-grabbing stories, developments in AI, energy, and global infrastructure are reshaping the industry. Here’s what you need to know.
The Musk-Altman Showdown: Credibility on the Line
In the third and final week of the Musk v. Altman trial, both sides traded fierce accusations, each aiming to dismantle the other’s credibility. Attorneys for Musk painted Sam Altman as a deceitful leader who lied and engaged in self-dealing, while Altman’s team portrayed Musk as a power-hungry figure seeking to dominate artificial general intelligence (AGI).
The trial, held in a packed courtroom, unearthed new details about the bitter rivalry between the two tech moguls and the contested nonprofit status of OpenAI. Among the more bizarre exhibits: a golden trophy shaped like a donkey’s ass, awarded to a former employee who once challenged Musk. The jury now faces the task of deciding whose version of events holds true.
For a deeper dive, read the full story on the explosive final week of the trial by Michelle Kim, who has been covering the case since day one. (She’s also a lawyer—making her courtroom insights particularly sharp.)
Trump’s Tech Stock Timing: Coincidence or Conflict?
Separately, an investigation has revealed that Donald Trump traded hundreds of millions of dollars in tech stocks just before favorable policy moves were announced. According to reports, he bought shares in Nvidia, AMD, and Arm ahead of policy boosts that benefited those companies. He also touted Palantir on Truth Social after purchasing its stock.
The timing has raised ethical questions, especially given that Trump’s cryptocurrency venture and Iran’s top crypto exchange were found to share the same private networks. While no direct misconduct has been proven, the pattern has sparked debate about insider trading and conflicts of interest among political figures.
SpaceX Eyes Nasdaq Listing—and a Massive Valuation
In a move that could reshape the market, SpaceX is reportedly planning to list on the Nasdaq stock exchange as soon as June 12. The company aims to raise up to $75 billion at a staggering $1.75 trillion valuation. BlackRock is said to be considering an investment of up to $10 billion in the offering.
This blockbuster IPO is expected to dwarf many of the biggest listings in history. Meanwhile, the success of Cerebras’ recent IPO has further fueled optimism in the tech sector.
Chinese AI Groups Leap Ahead in Video Generation
ByteDance and Kuaishou have pulled ahead of their US rivals in the hot field of AI-generated video. Their models now lead in both realism and scale, producing high-quality clips that are fueling a surge in China’s short-drama industry. The trend is part of a broader push: Chinese AI labs are increasingly betting on open-source models, a strategy that contrasts with the more closed approaches of many Western firms.
Iran to Charge Tech Giants for Undersea Internet Cables
Iran has announced plans to charge major tech companies for using undersea internet cables that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. These cables carry vast amounts of digital traffic to and from the region. Meanwhile, tech executives met at Uber HQ over the weekend to discuss Iran’s digital future, signaling ongoing international interest in the country’s connectivity.
Samsung Faces ‘Last Chance’ to Avoid Massive Strike Over AI
Over 45,000 employees at Samsung could walk out for 18 days starting this week, demanding a larger share of the AI boom. The company’s largest labor union has called it a “last chance” to reach an agreement before the strike begins. Talks are set to resume on Tuesday, but tensions remain high.
Old Oil and Gas Wells: A Clean Energy Opportunity
In a surprising twist, states across the US are exploring how to convert old oil and gas wells into geothermal energy assets. This approach could give a second life to abandoned infrastructure while providing clean power. At the same time, a balcony solar boom is coming to the US, with more households installing small solar panels on their balconies to cut energy bills.
The ChatGPT Era: Grades Surge 30% at One University
New data shows that the rise of ChatGPT and similar tools has led to a 30% increase in grades at a top university—but only in text-heavy courses. In quantitative subjects, grades remained flat. The disparity has prompted Princeton to revise its honor code to account for AI-assisted work, a move that many other institutions may follow.
— Compiled from reports by Quartz, CNBC, Reuters, FT, CNN, Wired, Axios, MIT Technology Review, and others.