IT General

Is Apple's partnership with OpenAI about to fall apart?

According to both Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman and a new report in the New York Times, AI giant OpenAI is currently considering suing Apple over the companies' agreement to integrate ChatGPT into some Apple Intelligence AI features.

Apple recently reached a $250 million settlement in a class action suit over its failure to deliver on its AI promises. (Apple hasn't admitted to any wrongdoing.) Now, OpenAI may serve Apple with a breach of contract notice, the Times reports.

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In 2024, OpenAI and Apple surprised the industry by partnering together on Apple's upcoming AI features known as Apple Intelligence. OpenAI's ChatGPT was expected to be prominently featured in Apple products, such as the iPhone and MacBook, powering Apple Intelligence. 

In addition, OpenAI appeared to be a key technology behind Apple's relaunch of its voice assistant Siri as an AI assistant. 

According to the reports, however, OpenAI is unhappy with how the now two-year-old partnership has panned out so far. The fallout appears to stem from how Apple integrated ChatGPT into its products.

OpenAI reportedly expected that the partnership would encourage Apple users to subscribe to ChatGPT. Instead, OpenAI found that ChatGPT is difficult for users to even find within Apple Intelligence. On top of that, in January, Apple confirmed that it had struck a deal with Google to use Gemini to power Apple Intelligence, including Apple's long-awaited AI relaunch of its voice assistant Siri.

SEE ALSO: Apple picks Google Gemini over ChatGPT to power the new AI Siri

All of these issues have led OpenAI to consider taking legal action against Apple, claiming breach of contract.

We'll see if OpenAI actually follows through with a suit against Apple, or if the company is trying to renegotiate its agreement.

The AI company is currently awaiting the jury's decision regarding its own future following a trial stemming from the lawsuit Elon Musk filed against ChatGPT creator Sam Altman.

SEE ALSO: 'Memes on his phone!' Sam Altman's trial testimony takes a turn

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Google is testing out a change to Gmail that might make the service a little bit less useful for newcomers.

The company confirmed to Android Authority that it is testing a policy shift that would see new Gmail accounts get a mere 5GB of free cloud storage, down from the 15GB that's been guaranteed to Gmail accounts for years. This change wouldn't affect existing accounts that already have 15GB of free storage, but anyone who wants to make a new account would be limited, at least as long as they live in one of the regions where this is being tested.

According to Android Authority, the test is largely limited to African countries right now.

SEE ALSO: Gmail's 'Help me write' will now sound more like you

"We’re testing a new storage policy for new accounts created in select regions that will help us continue to provide a high-quality storage service to our users, while encouraging users to improve their account security and data recovery," Google said in a statement to Android Authority.

The good news is that there is a way around this. Users who want the free 15GB of storage can simply attach a phone number to their account, and the 5GB limit will be lifted. Obviously, there might be security concerns associated with doing such a thing, but a fix is a fix. And, as Google's statement said, attaching a phone number to an account can actually increase its security through two-factor authentication, among other reasons.

Of course, this is only a test, so it may not ever become a global policy. If you don't already have a Gmail account, now might be the time to make one. You can also change your Gmail username, another recent change to long-standing Google policy.

A lot of people took one look at the Spotify app on their phones this week and didn't like what they saw.

Spotify updated the app icon to give it a shiny, disco ball-like appearance. If you aren't prepared for it, it's a pretty jarring shift. See for yourself:

SEE ALSO: Spotify has a new Wrapped-like experience that covers its entire history This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

If you're here, you're probably wondering why Spotify did that, and if it's going to be that way forever. For starters, no, it's not going to stay that way permanently. That's because Spotify did this to celebrate its 20th anniversary as a company (even though the app launched in 2008). This new icon is just a way to celebrate a huge milestone for the popular music streaming service. As a fun bonus, you can also see a bunch of cool data about your music streaming history in Spotify thanks to a Wrapped-like experience built into the app right now. If you want to know the first song you ever streamed, you can do that. Just prepare to cringe a little bit.

The change makes sense once you know all of that, but still, people online were not entirely happy about the jarring shift in aesthetic from Spotify.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

There's nothing to worry about, though. Just let the company celebrate itself for a little while.

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SAVE 27%: As of May 15, you can get the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station for $218.98 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 27% discount.

Bluetti Elite 30 V2 $218.98 at Amazon
$299 Save $80.02   Get Deal at Amazon

Hurricane season is basically here, which means it's a good time to figure out a backup power plan before you're sitting in the dark.

Gas generators are loud, and buying a giant battery pack is hard to justify if you only need to keep a few small things running. If you just want something compact that won't cost a fortune, Amazon is running a Lightning Deal on the Bluetti Elite 30 V2. You just have to move fast, because the discount expires on May 15.

SEE ALSO: Forget dead batteries — these Bluetti power stations are game-changers for the outdoors and power outages

As of May 15, you can get the Bluetti Elite 30 V2 portable power station for $218.98 at Amazon, down from $299. That's a 27% discount or $80.02 savings. Over 1,000 people have picked one up in the last month, and it currently has a 4.5-star rating from more than 500 reviews.

It only weighs 9.4 pounds, so it's easy to toss in the car for a camping trip. You get a 288Wh capacity and 600W of continuous output, plus a Power Lifting Mode that can handle surges up to 1500W if you need to run a small kettle or toaster. If you're keeping it at home for emergencies, the 10ms UPS switch keeps more important items, like a CPAP machine or router, running even if the power cuts out.

Plus, you can plug it into a wall outlet and charge it from zero to 100 percent in just 70 minutes.

SAVE 11%: As of May 15, you can get the 55-inch LG Class OLED AI 4K B5 Series Smart TV for $799.99 at Amazon, down from $896.99. That's an 11% discount or $97 savings.

55-inch LG Class OLED AI 4K B5 Series Smart TV $799.99 at Amazon
$896.99 Save $97   Get Deal at Amazon

Most decent OLED TVs will run you well over a thousand dollars, but you don't have to spend a grand to get a great screen. Amazon currently has a 55-inch LG marked down to $800 — and they're even throwing in a free month of Xbox Game Pass for new users.

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Right now, you can get the 55-inch LG Class OLED AI 4K B5 Series Smart TV for $799.99 at Amazon, down from $896.99. That's an 11% discount or $97 savings. More than 300 people have bought it in the last month alone, and it has a 4.6-star rating.

The screen uses more than 8.3 million self-lit pixels to give you true blacks and accurate colors, so everything looks crisp. It also has Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Filmmaker Mode built in. Gamers will also appreciate the 120Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms response time, and four HDMI 2.1 inputs.

Summer is coming, which means booking flights and getting passports ready for travel. The ubiquitous gay hookup app, Grindr, just launched Season 3 of its show Host or Travel and revealed the top gay travel destinations of the year. Any guesses?

Host or Travel explored "gayborhoods" in cities like Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro in the past. This season, Grindr explores the likes of Sydney, Australia, Austin, Texas, and more, including the number one destination for gay travelers in 2026: Paris, according to new global Grindr data.

SEE ALSO: The great Grindr glossary: all terms and acronyms explained

Grindr analyzed global in-app behavior to find where its users are going, chatting with, and connecting the most, and the French capital shot up to the top, according to a press release shared with Mashable. Rio de Janeiro, New York City, Bangkok, São Paulo, and Berlin are the other most-frequently visited cities among Grindr users.

"Grindr is the digital home for the community, and Host or Travel was created from the understanding that for gay travelers, finding your people in a new city isn't just a nice-to-have, it's crucial," Grindr's CMO, Tristan Pineiro, stated in the press release.

Featured Video For You My awkward first date with an AI companion

Pineiro said that the app built this series to celebrate how the gay community finds strength in numbers. Grindr users aren't just looking for dates, but they're using the app to curate adventures, find safe spaces, and experience the world through the eyes of locals.

And it's not just the aforementioned cities that are hot spots for gay visitors. Grindr found that use of its "Right Now" feature (aka who is free to meet...right now) is highest in Taiwan, the Philippines, Lima, Buenos Aires, and Medellín. Meanwhile, lots of late-night chats occur in Manila, Taipei, and Buenos Aires, while San Salvador, Colombo, and Kathmandu are most active in the early morning.

We'll be taking notes, especially as we plan our Pride Month travel.

TL;DR: Watch USA vs. Switzerland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships starts with a number of exciting matchups, including USA vs. Switzerland. This competition doesn't carry the same weight as the Winter Olympics, but try telling that to hosts Switzerland. They'll be doing everything they can to upset the odds and secure an opening-round victory over favorites USA.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is USA vs. Switzerland?

USA vs. Switzerland in the 2026 IIHF World Championships starts at 2:20 p.m. ET on May 15. This fixture takes place at the Swiss Life Arena in Zurich.

How to watch USA vs. Switzerland for free

USA vs. Switzerland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream USA vs. Switzerland plus every other fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream USA vs. Switzerland in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch Czechia vs. Denmark in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free on IIHF.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships begins with some interesting matchups, including the defending champions going up against Denmark. The pressure will be on Czechia to defend their crown against a long list of teams with hopes of winning this competition.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Czechia vs. Denmark?

Czechia vs. Denmark in the 2026 IIHF World Championships starts at 2:20 p.m. ET on May 15. This fixture takes place at the BCF Arena in Fribourg.

How to watch Czechia vs. Denmark for free

Czechia vs. Denmark in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships is available to live stream for free on IIHF.TV.

IIHF.TV is not available in some locations due to regional broadcasting restrictions (blocked locations listed here), but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with access, meaning you can stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access

4. Connect to IIHF.TV

5. Watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream Czechia vs. Denmark plus every other fixture before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for the Ice Hockey World Championships?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Czechia vs. Denmark in the 2026 Ice Hockey World Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE 44%: As of May 15, you can get the Craftsman Mechanics 105-piece tool set for $60.72, down from $109. That's a 44% discount or $48.28 savings.

Craftsman Mechanics 105-Piece Tool Set $60.72 at Amazon
$109 Save $48.28   Get Deal at Amazon

Shopping for Father's Day (or for dads in general) is tough. My dad is a mechanic and a racecar driver, so tools aren't something I usually buy him. But if you're looking for a genuinely useful gift for a dad who doesn't already own every tool on the planet, this Craftsman 105-Piece Mechanics Tool Set is a pretty great option.

SEE ALSO: 60+ Father's Day gifts for Dad he won't have to pretend to like

Right now, you can get it for $60.72, down from $109. That's a 44% discount or $48.28 savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked for this kit.

It comes with a full assortment of sockets, ratchets, and specialty bits made from corrosion-resistant chrome vanadium steel. It also includes a low-profile 72-tooth ratchet that's 25 percent thinner, making it easier to fit into annoyingly tight spaces. Everything packs away neatly into a durable carrying case, and it even comes with a full lifetime warranty.

Rooftop solar is one of the best things to happen to my home, but I still encounter trepidation when I speak about solar with others. There is a repetitiveness to the concerns, so let's just address them head-on.

Most ESP32 microcontrollers are blessed with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which means they can be used in a vast number of wireless projects. These could be some of the most useful DIY projects that you ever build.

Gardening is all about timing, spacing, and staying organized—and Excel handles all three better than you might expect. This summer, I'm using it to map beds, track planting schedules, monitor conditions, and record harvests. Here's how.

If you're constantly dealing with the frustration of weak Wi-Fi and spotty coverage at home, it's only a matter of time before you start eyeing those advanced and pricey mesh systems. To be fair, they absolutely have a place in large homes where a single router struggles to reach every corner.

I don't think Microsoft is doing anything evil here. Windows isn't uploading my personal files, and this isn't some sketchy background process pretending to be useful. It's a real Windows feature called Delivery Optimization, and the idea is simple enough: your PC can help distribute Windows updates and Microsoft Store app updates to other PCs so everyone gets them faster.

Subscription services are pretty convenient, but they're usually not free. Even when they don't cost money, you almost always pay with your privacy.

Are you switching over from Windows to Linux? Do you try to avoid the Linux terminal? Linux doesn't have to be scary, and these days there are plenty of easy options for you. I have two beginner-friendly distros that won't try to make you use the terminal.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a dog lover.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 15, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: To maneuver

• Green: Basketballers

• Blue: Same letters

• Purple: Canine breeds

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Navigate through, as a river

• Green: Multi-time NBA MVPs

• Blue: Non-palindromic words in a famous palindrome

• Purple: Homophones of kinds of dogs, familiarly

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1069 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Navigate through, as a river: CROSS, FORD, TRAVERSE, WADE

• Multi-time NBA MVPs: BIRD, CURRY, JAMES, JORDAN

• Non-palindromic words in a famous palindrome: ABLE, ELBA, SAW, WAS

• Homophones of kinds of dogs, familiarly: CIAO, PALM, PEEK, PITT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for May 15, 2026

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're an animal lover.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 15, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Weaselly wascals

The words are related to animals.

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Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe an animal family.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Mustelids.

NYT Strands word list for May 15

• Polecat

• Marten

• Otter

• Mustelids

• Wolverine

• Badger

• Ferret

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're religious.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for May 15, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for May 15, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A belief.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Vote for your favorite creators today

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter E appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CREED

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Closing arguments are complete in Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman et al. But even as the nine-person jury began deliberations in a federal courthouse in Oakland, Calif., there was nothing normal about this case.

Thanks to Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who will decide the future of OpenAI, the tech world's trial of the century may yet have a few surprises up its sleeve.

In case you missed it, this trial was convened to determine the outcome of Musk's 2023 lawsuit, which claimed that his fellow OpenAI cofounders defrauded him. Even before it began, this case had all the hallmarks of a catfight between Silicon Valley frenemies.

The scratching turned out to be fierce. Elon Musk's testy testimony included him being forced to admit his co-parenting relationship with OpenAI executive Shivon Zilis, his eyes and ears at the company. Meanwhile, Sam Altman implied Musk cared more about memes than the company he co-founded.

Will Musk be sanctioned for skipping town?

Just when it seemed the drama couldn't get messier, Musk skipped town when he'd told the judge he'd stick around in case he was needed.

We don't know yet whether Judge Rogers, who runs a tight ship and has brooked no nonsense in this trial, will warn or sanction Musk for a rule violation. Neither the court nor Musk's team has yet officially confirmed that no paperwork was filed prior to Musk's departure to join the U.S. delegation in China.

OpenAI's lawyers made hay out of Musk's absence. "Mr. Musk isn't here today," said the company's lead counsel, William Savitt, during closing arguments. "My clients are here. They're here because they care about this."

It was left to Musk's attorney, Steven Molo, to apologize for his client's absence, and to assure the jury that "this is something he's passionate about."

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Elon Musk's OpenAI testimony

Molo went on to trash Altman and OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman by comparing them to people standing by a rickety bridge, ensuring hikers of its safety. The bridge, in case you don't get the metaphor, is "built on Sam Altman's version of the truth."

But the jury may well see Musk, in this metaphor, as a cynical businessman who didn't even show up at the bridge — or worse, wanted to move the bridge to Tesla and make a profit on it himself, back in 2017.

Musk "never cared about the nonprofit structure" of OpenAI, a company attorney said. “What he cared about was winning."

While Molo repeatedly characterized OpenAI's actions as "stealing a charity," OpenAI's lawyers repeated an equally memorable phrase about Musk: "sour grapes."

How the judge and jury will decide what happens next

Luckily for Musk, the jury's decision in this case is only advisory. Unluckily for Musk, it's the judge who holds all the power at the moment. Not only is she free to disagree with the jury, but she also has the crucial task of deciding what, if anything, Musk is owed by OpenAI.

Rogers will convene additional hearings to discuss remedies that might apply if she and the jury agree that OpenAI breached the terms of its charitable trust. They will also need to agree that Musk filed suit within the three-year statute of limitations.

The TL;DR on that bit: if Musk believed OpenAI's terms had been breached before August 2021, he has no standing.

SEE ALSO: The Musk-Altman trial is already spilling the tea. Here's how.

Musk is asking for a remedy of $150 billion. Rogers isn't bound to give him anything close to that. And of course, no matter what happens, both sides may appeal her verdict to a higher court.

A Musk tweet that might haunt him

Amid the Musk-Altman drama, not to mention Brockman's drama-filled diary, in which he said it would be nice to be making billions, it's important to remember that Musk is also suing Microsoft.

The company's $10 billion investment in OpenAI was a catalyst for Musk's lawsuit; Musk's lawyer says that's when OpenAI's standing as a charitable organization was doomed. It was "a horse of a different color" compared to previous Microsoft investments, Molo said.

Microsoft's closing argument essentially boiled down to: you guys, leave us out of it. The company says none of its due diligence at OpenAI turned up any restrictions against its investment.

Ironically, however, it is Microsoft's presence that might doom Musk. OpenAI's lawyers pointed to a Musk tweet from 2020 that read "OpenAI is essentially captured by Microsoft."

The idea of a nonprofit being "captured" by a for-profit company seems like the very essence of a breach of charitable trust. So why did Musk wait another three years to take legal action? Thanks to the statute of limitations, that may end up being the $150 billion question.