In 'Musk v Altman', this judge will make the final call

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. In 'Musk v Altman', this judge will make the final call1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleLily JamaliNorth America Technology correspondent, Oakland, CaliforniaReutersGonzalez Rogers told Musk: "Let's remind everyone in the courtroom that you are not a lawyer. "As the world's richest man, with a net-worth of over three-quarters of a trillion dollars, Elon Musk's resources and connections often make it easy for him bend Silicon Valley to his will. But that's not always the case, as evidenced by his $150bn (£110bn) lawsuit against OpenAI, currently playing out in a California court.

Musk co-founded the company in 2015 with CEO Sam Altman, and left three years later after a power struggle. The feud has fuelled a costly showdown between two tech titans – but in this courtroom, there is no doubt who is calling the shots. Musk vs Altman is just the latest high-profile Big Tech case to cross US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers's bench.

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The 61-year-old federal judge, who originally hails from southern Texas, is known for her no-nonsense approach in the courtroom. "I think it's a function of the fact that she's now so experienced – nothing's going to faze her," Michael Rhodes, a retired lawyer and former partner at Cooley LLP, where Gonzalez Rogers was once also a partner, told the . Musk has accused Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman of a breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.

He objects to OpenAI's decision to open a for-profit arm in 2019, three years before it debuted the software ChatGPT which ignited the commercial AI market. OpenAI says Musk is suing to give his own AI startup, xAI, a leg-up. During his testimony last week, Musk tried at one point to play the part of his own legal counsel, accusing OpenAI's lawyer William Savitt of asking him leading questions.

Gonzalez Rogers quickly shut him down. "That's not how it works," she interjected. Unlike a lawyer conducting direct examination of their own client, Savitt was allowed to lead, she instructed Musk.

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"Let's remind everyone in the courtroom that you are not a lawyer," she told Musk. "I am not a lawyer," Musk acknowledged. "Well, technically I did take Law 101 in school," he added, drawing laughter from the packed courtroom gallery.

But he reaffirmed her point: "Yes – I am not a lawyer. "In Gonzalez Rogers, Musk may have met his match. "It does make an interesting juxtaposition.

He's the wealthiest man in the world. He's used to being on top. She's definitely on top now.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.