I've seen Sam Altman in action plenty of times. Here's why I was surprised when I watched him on the stand.

Tech Insider : Technology, Business, Style
Business Insider reporter Stephen Council takes a selfie outside the federal courthouse in Oakland.
Business Insider reporter Stephen Council outside the federal courthouse in Oakland.

Stephen Council/Business Insider

OpenAI trial wraps up with testimony about Reid Hoffman, a trophy, and a Musk outburst

Tech Insider : Technology, Business, Style
Sam Altman (L) and ELon Musk
Sam Altman (L) and Elon Musk

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OpenAI exec recalls 'tense exchange' where Elon Musk called him a 'jackass'

Tech Insider : Technology, Business
Joshua Achiam
Joshua Achiam, OpenAI's chief futurist, testified in the Musk v. Altman trial.

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Sam Altman faces awkward grilling over 'toxic culture of lying'

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Sam Altman.
Sam Altman delivered testimony in the civil trial between himself and Elon Musk.

JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images

Sam Altman testimony: Musk wanted 'total control' of OpenAI to pass to his children

Tech Insider : Technology, Business, Style
Sam Altman.
Sam Altman took the witness stand in Musk's legal fight against OpenAI.

JOSH EDELSON / AFP via Getty Images

4 ways Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella threw cold water on Elon Musk's case

Tech Insider : Technology, Business
satya nadella
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, took the stand in Elon Musk's trial against Sam Altman and OpenAI.

Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters

What Sam Altman's lawyer learned from RBG and driving a cab

Tech Insider : Business, Style
william savitt openai sam altman trial elon musk
William Savitt, a top attorney at Wachtell, is representing Sam Altman and OpenAI in a trial brought by Elon Musk seeking to dismantle the company.

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images

What the Musk-Altman courtroom clash reveals about two of the most powerful men in Silicon Valley

Tech Insider : Technology, Business, Environment
Elon Musk and Sam Altman.
Elon Musk and Sam Altman.

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Sam Altman had a bad day in court

Tech Insider : Technology, Business, Style
rosie campbell openai
Former OpenAI safety researcher Rosie Campbell told jurors that she felt she had no home at the artificial intelligence company.

Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images

Sam Altman's management style comes under the microscope at OpenAI trial

Tech Insider : Business, Environment, Style
Sam Altman and Greg Brockman
Sam Altman's management style is under scrutiny in the OpenAI trial.

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