Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman collapsed in federal court, ending what some called "the A.I. trial of the century" with a whimper. The jury dismissed the case on statute of limitations grounds without considering whether OpenAI violated its founding mission to prioritize humanity over profit. Musk plans to appeal to the Ninth Circuit.

The trial offered a rare glimpse into Silicon Valley's A.I. ambitions. Executives confirmed eye-watering stakes: President Greg Brockman's holdings neared $30 billion, co-founder Ilya Sutskever held $7 billion, and Altman disclosed $2 billion in related companies. OpenAI's upcoming IPO could value the company at $1 trillion.

Public fear of A.I. continues mounting despite the industry's green light from Congress, the Trump administration, and Wall Street. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at Altman's home last month. With regulatory opposition scattered and ineffective, the A.I. juggernaut faces little resistance as it reshapes the economy and labor market.