Bid Farewell to ‘Stranger Things’ With io9’s Finale Episode Spoiler Zone

Tech-news Netflix, Stranger Things January 1, 2026

After nearly 10 years, five seasons, several growth spurts, a surprise Kate Bush revival, and enough tie-in merch to fill the entire Upside Down, Stranger Things has ended. The occasion was so monumental the last episode got a theatrical release—though Netflix dropped the feature-length finale on its streamer, of course, for fans who’d rather finish the show exactly how they started it: on their couch.

So now that the finale is out there in the world—what are your thoughts? Unlike every other part of season five (and all other previous seasons), Netflix did not release a screener ahead of time for reviewing press. Everyone got their eyeballs on all those juicy spoilers at the same time. So we want to know: what did you think?

Share your reaction to how it all went down below. We can kind of assume the world was saved in the end, but should we? And along the way, who lived and who died?

What new needle drops seem poised to catapult another retro artist to fresh chart-topping success? Were there any surprise cameos from Stranger Things seasons past? What questions did the Duffer Brothers finally answer—and were there any plot threads left dangling? Did Netflix stick the landing this time, or do we have another Squid Game situation on our hands? Did Vickie and Robin ever make it to Enzo’s and order dessert?

Weigh in below, but if you haven’t yet watched “The Rightside Up,” be warned. Spoilers!

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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Mariah Carey Keeps Her Cozy-luxe Boot Run Going Strong in Brown Suede in Aspen

Why Savvy Gamers Are Embracing Digital Marketplaces for Gear and Games

Waiting in line for a midnight game release or scrambling to find a sold-out gaming headset at your favorite electronics store feels far less appealing in a world where instant digital access is just a click away. Today’s gamers are done chasing physical stock and juggling dozens of store accounts. Instead, they’re seeking out a more streamlined, cost-effective way to buy gear and titles, often without ever leaving their chair.

Digital marketplaces have exploded in popularity among gaming enthusiasts aiming to make every dollar and minute count. For those new to this shift, sites like Eneba.com have made a strong mark by combining everything from rare peripherals to discounted digital game codes in one convenient space. With fierce competition driving prices lower and generous selection on offer, these platforms now rival traditional game shops, yet offer far more flexibility, whether it’s a late-night shopping urge or a flash sale on the latest blockbuster.

While there are plenty of options to buy digital games online, many in-the-know buyers gravitate toward platforms like Eneba for several reasons. Eneba stands out by offering instant access to game keys, which allow players to redeem titles directly on platforms such as PlayStation, with no disc or shipping required. This gives buyers more choice and frequently better prices than traditional platform stores, while an enormous catalog and up-front global or region-locked information make for transparent shopping. Plus, with verified sellers and robust marketplace controls, the risk of counterfeits drops markedly. Beyond game keys, Eneba also features gift cards for services like Xbox, PSN, and Steam, meaning players can top up accounts and snag games or content of their choice, skipping the hunt for specific game keys.

The Big Draws: Price, Speed, and Selection

Amanz/Unsplash

What drives players to trust digital marketplaces over the tried and tested big-name stores? Savings are a major factor: prices for both hardware and digital game keys can dip well below official retailer listings. Flash sales or limited-time discounts mean buyers can seize deals at odd hours, no camping out, no extra fees for international shipping.

But it’s not just the cost that wins people over. Instant access is non-negotiable for gamers who want a new release the second it drops, or need to replace a mic in time for tonight’s match. Digital codes and direct-to-home shipping let buyers skip wait times entirely. On top of that, curated stock and real-time availability mean less hunting around, which saves effort. Every moment not spent scrolling is one more minute playing.

Security and Transparency Keep Gamers Loyal

Skepticism around digital goods is only natural when you’re entering codes worth fifty or even a hundred dollars. Digital marketplaces have worked hard to build trust by publishing clear security guarantees, requiring third-party merchant verification, and setting strict standards for compliance and sourcing. Buyers know that when issues arise, support teams are ready to step in, a far cry from faceless classified ads or auction sites.

Transparency is a dealbreaker for many. Region-locked codes? Out-of-stock hardware? Sites that label everything clearly and show purchase history on demand find it easier to retain picky shoppers. Gamers remember who wasted their time and who made the experience simple.

Flexibility for Modern Gaming Lifestyles

Physical games and hardware still have a place, but the digital approach caters to how gamers actually live and play. Swapping consoles with friends, jumping from PC to mobile, and redeeming codes while traveling all become easier with digital ownership. The global reach of digital marketplaces makes it possible to find rare or region-specific gear and content not available locally.

With the cycle of new releases and old favorites never ending, staying ahead of the next hot thing is less stressful when your shopping list can be satisfied in one place. Digital marketplaces like Eneba, offering deals on all things digital, continue to reshape how players discover, buy, and enjoy what they love most.

#Savvy #Gamers #Embracing #Digital #Marketplaces #Gear #GamesAndroid Gaming,console gaming,desktop gaming — Amanz/Unsplash

#Savvy #Gamers #Embracing #Digital #Marketplaces #Gear #GamesAndroid Gaming,console gaming,desktop gaming">

mwasimuddin125 0

Eneba.com have made a strong mark by combining everything from rare peripherals to discounted digital game codes in one convenient space. With fierce competition driving prices lower and generous selection on offer, these platforms now rival traditional game shops, yet offer far more flexibility, whether it’s a late-night shopping urge or a flash sale on the latest blockbuster.

While there are plenty of options to buy digital games online, many in-the-know buyers gravitate toward platforms like Eneba for several reasons. Eneba stands out by offering instant access to game keys, which allow players to redeem titles directly on platforms such as PlayStation, with no disc or shipping required. This gives buyers more choice and frequently better prices than traditional platform stores, while an enormous catalog and up-front global or region-locked information make for transparent shopping. Plus, with verified sellers and robust marketplace controls, the risk of counterfeits drops markedly. Beyond game keys, Eneba also features gift cards for services like Xbox, PSN, and Steam, meaning players can top up accounts and snag games or content of their choice, skipping the hunt for specific game keys.

The Big Draws: Price, Speed, and Selection

Amanz/Unsplash

What drives players to trust digital marketplaces over the tried and tested big-name stores? Savings are a major factor: prices for both hardware and digital game keys can dip well below official retailer listings. Flash sales or limited-time discounts mean buyers can seize deals at odd hours, no camping out, no extra fees for international shipping.

But it’s not just the cost that wins people over. Instant access is non-negotiable for gamers who want a new release the second it drops, or need to replace a mic in time for tonight’s match. Digital codes and direct-to-home shipping let buyers skip wait times entirely. On top of that, curated stock and real-time availability mean less hunting around, which saves effort. Every moment not spent scrolling is one more minute playing.

Security and Transparency Keep Gamers Loyal

Skepticism around digital goods is only natural when you’re entering codes worth fifty or even a hundred dollars. Digital marketplaces have worked hard to build trust by publishing clear security guarantees, requiring third-party merchant verification, and setting strict standards for compliance and sourcing. Buyers know that when issues arise, support teams are ready to step in, a far cry from faceless classified ads or auction sites.

Transparency is a dealbreaker for many. Region-locked codes? Out-of-stock hardware? Sites that label everything clearly and show purchase history on demand find it easier to retain picky shoppers. Gamers remember who wasted their time and who made the experience simple.

Flexibility for Modern Gaming Lifestyles

Physical games and hardware still have a place, but the digital approach caters to how gamers actually live and play. Swapping consoles with friends, jumping from PC to mobile, and redeeming codes while traveling all become easier with digital ownership. The global reach of digital marketplaces makes it possible to find rare or region-specific gear and content not available locally.

With the cycle of new releases and old favorites never ending, staying ahead of the next hot thing is less stressful when your shopping list can be satisfied in one place. Digital marketplaces like Eneba, offering deals on all things digital, continue to reshape how players discover, buy, and enjoy what they love most.

#Savvy #Gamers #Embracing #Digital #Marketplaces #Gear #GamesAndroid Gaming,console gaming,desktop gaming">Why Savvy Gamers Are Embracing Digital Marketplaces for Gear and Games

Waiting in line for a midnight game release or scrambling to find a sold-out gaming headset at your favorite electronics store feels far less appealing in a world where instant digital access is just a click away. Today’s gamers are done chasing physical stock and juggling dozens of store accounts. Instead, they’re seeking out a more streamlined, cost-effective way to buy gear and titles, often without ever leaving their chair.

Digital marketplaces have exploded in popularity among gaming enthusiasts aiming to make every dollar and minute count. For those new to this shift, sites like Eneba.com have made a strong mark by combining everything from rare peripherals to discounted digital game codes in one convenient space. With fierce competition driving prices lower and generous selection on offer, these platforms now rival traditional game shops, yet offer far more flexibility, whether it’s a late-night shopping urge or a flash sale on the latest blockbuster.

While there are plenty of options to buy digital games online, many in-the-know buyers gravitate toward platforms like Eneba for several reasons. Eneba stands out by offering instant access to game keys, which allow players to redeem titles directly on platforms such as PlayStation, with no disc or shipping required. This gives buyers more choice and frequently better prices than traditional platform stores, while an enormous catalog and up-front global or region-locked information make for transparent shopping. Plus, with verified sellers and robust marketplace controls, the risk of counterfeits drops markedly. Beyond game keys, Eneba also features gift cards for services like Xbox, PSN, and Steam, meaning players can top up accounts and snag games or content of their choice, skipping the hunt for specific game keys.

The Big Draws: Price, Speed, and Selection

Security and Transparency Keep Gamers Loyal

Flexibility for Modern Gaming Lifestyles

#Savvy #Gamers #Embracing #Digital #Marketplaces #Gear #GamesAndroid Gaming,console gaming,desktop gaming

Meta Could Spend 5 Billion This Year Due to AI
Wednesday was a big day for the tech industry with Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft all reporting earnings at the same time in the afternoon. Out of the four, though, Meta was the clear loser with its shares down more than 7% even though revenue increased 33% this past quarter, the company’s fastest since 2021. It’s probably because the company upped its already outrageous spending expectations for the year. Meta said that 2026 capital expenditures would be at least billion more than expected and could top 5 billion. While emphasizing his “confidence in this investment,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that most of this increase was due to “higher component costs, particularly memory pricing.”

The AI boom has led to an unprecedented data center buildout that has constrained the global memory chip supply and increased prices for these valuable chips. The result has been a global memory crisis that has impacted not only Meta and the rest of the AI industry but also caused the prices of consumer electronics like laptops and smartphones to soar. Meta’s 5 billion is a dramatic increase from the billion capital expenditure it recorded just last year, and Zuckerberg is betting it all on an AI turnaround effort.

Meta has been left behind in the AI race as industry rivals like Google have soared past. Roughly 10 months ago, Zuckerberg acknowledged the situation and announced a major catch-up effort that saw him commit billions upon billions of dollars to research and development, and to poach talent from all over the industry, including bringing in Scale AI’s founder Alexandr Wang to lead the new Meta Superintelligence Labs AI division.

Many have been reasonably nervous about this commitment, considering that the company’s latest big bet in emerging tech, the Metaverse, has flopped dramatically. In Wednesday’s earnings report, Meta said that the Reality Labs division, which had helmed the Metaverse efforts, notched an operating loss of more than billion, while only cashing in 2 million in sales. That adds to the whopping billion and more the division has lost in the past six years. But experts are somewhat more hopeful about the AI bet because, earlier this month, the tech giant debuted the first fruits of that investment with the AI model Muse Spark, a proprietary model that the company plans to open-source in the future. It’s a step in the right direction, but Meta still has to do more before it can confidently say the catch-up effort is successful.

“This was the first release from Meta Superintelligence Labs, and it shows that our work is on track to build a leading lab,” Zuckerberg assured investors in the company’s earnings call. “Now that we have a strong model, we can develop more novel products as well.” Those novel products will include two agents, one for personal and the other for business uses, according to Zuckerberg. “We’re already testing an early version of business AIs and weekly conversations have grown 10x since the start of this year,” Zuckerberg said.

One way that AI is clearly showing up to benefit Meta is internally. Meta CFO Susan Li said that over half a billion users weekly on Facebook and Instagram each are now watching videos translated and dubbed by AI. The company is also incorporating the new AI model into parts of its core business, like ads, and particularly into its recommendation system. The goal is to have the AI hyper-personalize feeds for users. “Since our recommendation systems are operating at such large scale, we’ll phase in this new research and technology over time,” Zuckerberg said. “But the trend over the last few years seems clear that we are seeing an increasing return on the amount that we can improve engagement for people and value for advertisers.”

AI is also taking over internally at Meta. The company is laying off 10% of its workforce and reportedly offering voluntary buyouts to 7% of its U.S. staff, in what seems to follow a purportedly AI-driven trend that has taken Silicon Valley by storm. On the call, executives wouldn’t say if the layoffs had to do with automation of jobs, but Li did say that a “leaner operating model” would help “offset the substantial investments we’re making.” #Meta #Spend #Billion #Year #DueArtificial intelligence,Mark Zuckerberg,Meta

mwasimuddin125 0

Wednesday was a big day for the tech industry with Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft all reporting earnings at the same time in the afternoon. Out of the four, though, Meta was the clear loser with its shares down more than 7% even though revenue increased 33% this past quarter, the company’s fastest since 2021.

It’s probably because the company upped its already outrageous spending expectations for the year. Meta said that 2026 capital expenditures would be at least $10 billion more than expected and could top $145 billion. While emphasizing his “confidence in this investment,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that most of this increase was due to “higher component costs, particularly memory pricing.”

The AI boom has led to an unprecedented data center buildout that has constrained the global memory chip supply and increased prices for these valuable chips. The result has been a global memory crisis that has impacted not only Meta and the rest of the AI industry but also caused the prices of consumer electronics like laptops and smartphones to soar.

Meta’s $145 billion is a dramatic increase from the $72 billion capital expenditure it recorded just last year, and Zuckerberg is betting it all on an AI turnaround effort.

Meta has been left behind in the AI race as industry rivals like Google have soared past. Roughly 10 months ago, Zuckerberg acknowledged the situation and announced a major catch-up effort that saw him commit billions upon billions of dollars to research and development, and to poach talent from all over the industry, including bringing in Scale AI’s founder Alexandr Wang to lead the new Meta Superintelligence Labs AI division.

Many have been reasonably nervous about this commitment, considering that the company’s latest big bet in emerging tech, the Metaverse, has flopped dramatically. In Wednesday’s earnings report, Meta said that the Reality Labs division, which had helmed the Metaverse efforts, notched an operating loss of more than $4 billion, while only cashing in $402 million in sales. That adds to the whopping $80 billion and more the division has lost in the past six years.

But experts are somewhat more hopeful about the AI bet because, earlier this month, the tech giant debuted the first fruits of that investment with the AI model Muse Spark, a proprietary model that the company plans to open-source in the future. It’s a step in the right direction, but Meta still has to do more before it can confidently say the catch-up effort is successful.

“This was the first release from Meta Superintelligence Labs, and it shows that our work is on track to build a leading lab,” Zuckerberg assured investors in the company’s earnings call. “Now that we have a strong model, we can develop more novel products as well.”

Those novel products will include two agents, one for personal and the other for business uses, according to Zuckerberg.

“We’re already testing an early version of business AIs and weekly conversations have grown 10x since the start of this year,” Zuckerberg said.

One way that AI is clearly showing up to benefit Meta is internally. Meta CFO Susan Li said that over half a billion users weekly on Facebook and Instagram each are now watching videos translated and dubbed by AI. The company is also incorporating the new AI model into parts of its core business, like ads, and particularly into its recommendation system. The goal is to have the AI hyper-personalize feeds for users.

“Since our recommendation systems are operating at such large scale, we’ll phase in this new research and technology over time,” Zuckerberg said. “But the trend over the last few years seems clear that we are seeing an increasing return on the amount that we can improve engagement for people and value for advertisers.”

AI is also taking over internally at Meta. The company is laying off 10% of its workforce and reportedly offering voluntary buyouts to 7% of its U.S. staff, in what seems to follow a purportedly AI-driven trend that has taken Silicon Valley by storm.

On the call, executives wouldn’t say if the layoffs had to do with automation of jobs, but Li did say that a “leaner operating model” would help “offset the substantial investments we’re making.”

#Meta #Spend #Billion #Year #DueArtificial intelligence,Mark Zuckerberg,Meta">Meta Could Spend $145 Billion This Year Due to AI

Wednesday was a big day for the tech industry with Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft all reporting earnings at the same time in the afternoon. Out of the four, though, Meta was the clear loser with its shares down more than 7% even though revenue increased 33% this past quarter, the company’s fastest since 2021.

It’s probably because the company upped its already outrageous spending expectations for the year. Meta said that 2026 capital expenditures would be at least $10 billion more than expected and could top $145 billion. While emphasizing his “confidence in this investment,” CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that most of this increase was due to “higher component costs, particularly memory pricing.”

The AI boom has led to an unprecedented data center buildout that has constrained the global memory chip supply and increased prices for these valuable chips. The result has been a global memory crisis that has impacted not only Meta and the rest of the AI industry but also caused the prices of consumer electronics like laptops and smartphones to soar.

Meta’s $145 billion is a dramatic increase from the $72 billion capital expenditure it recorded just last year, and Zuckerberg is betting it all on an AI turnaround effort.

Meta has been left behind in the AI race as industry rivals like Google have soared past. Roughly 10 months ago, Zuckerberg acknowledged the situation and announced a major catch-up effort that saw him commit billions upon billions of dollars to research and development, and to poach talent from all over the industry, including bringing in Scale AI’s founder Alexandr Wang to lead the new Meta Superintelligence Labs AI division.

Many have been reasonably nervous about this commitment, considering that the company’s latest big bet in emerging tech, the Metaverse, has flopped dramatically. In Wednesday’s earnings report, Meta said that the Reality Labs division, which had helmed the Metaverse efforts, notched an operating loss of more than $4 billion, while only cashing in $402 million in sales. That adds to the whopping $80 billion and more the division has lost in the past six years.

But experts are somewhat more hopeful about the AI bet because, earlier this month, the tech giant debuted the first fruits of that investment with the AI model Muse Spark, a proprietary model that the company plans to open-source in the future. It’s a step in the right direction, but Meta still has to do more before it can confidently say the catch-up effort is successful.

“This was the first release from Meta Superintelligence Labs, and it shows that our work is on track to build a leading lab,” Zuckerberg assured investors in the company’s earnings call. “Now that we have a strong model, we can develop more novel products as well.”

Those novel products will include two agents, one for personal and the other for business uses, according to Zuckerberg.

“We’re already testing an early version of business AIs and weekly conversations have grown 10x since the start of this year,” Zuckerberg said.

One way that AI is clearly showing up to benefit Meta is internally. Meta CFO Susan Li said that over half a billion users weekly on Facebook and Instagram each are now watching videos translated and dubbed by AI. The company is also incorporating the new AI model into parts of its core business, like ads, and particularly into its recommendation system. The goal is to have the AI hyper-personalize feeds for users.

“Since our recommendation systems are operating at such large scale, we’ll phase in this new research and technology over time,” Zuckerberg said. “But the trend over the last few years seems clear that we are seeing an increasing return on the amount that we can improve engagement for people and value for advertisers.”

AI is also taking over internally at Meta. The company is laying off 10% of its workforce and reportedly offering voluntary buyouts to 7% of its U.S. staff, in what seems to follow a purportedly AI-driven trend that has taken Silicon Valley by storm.

On the call, executives wouldn’t say if the layoffs had to do with automation of jobs, but Li did say that a “leaner operating model” would help “offset the substantial investments we’re making.”

#Meta #Spend #Billion #Year #DueArtificial intelligence,Mark Zuckerberg,Meta

Elon Musk returned to the witness stand on Wednesday to continue telling his side of the story in his legal battle against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Under cross-examination from OpenAI’s lawyers, Musk was pressed on all the ways he tried to squeeze the organization over a 2017 power struggle that he ultimately lost. Around this time, Musk tried to hire away OpenAI researchers and stopped sending it funding he had previously promised, according to emails presented as evidence in the case.

As the cross-examination began, tension rippled through the courtroom. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers started the day by reprimanding someone in the gallery for taking a picture of Musk. OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman sat behind his lawyers with a yellow legal pad in his lap, giving Musk a cold stare as he testified. Musk grew visibly frustrated on the witness stand, pausing frequently to tell OpenAI’s lawyer, William Savitt, that he saw his questions as misleading. Meanwhile, Savitt’s cross-examination was derailed by objections, technical issues, and Musk continuously claiming he doesn’t recall key details of OpenAI’s history.

Savitt showed the courtroom emails from September 2017 between Musk, Brockman, and researcher Ilya Sutskever discussing the formation of what would become OpenAI’s for-profit arm. In the thread, Musk demanded the right to choose four members of its board of directors, giving him more voting power than his cofounders, who would be left with three in total. “I would unequivocally have initial control of the company, but this will change quickly,” said Musk in one message. Sutskever wrote back rejecting the idea because he said he feared it would give Musk too much power.

Months before these negotiations started, Musk had halted payments to OpenAI, which was particularly difficult for the organization because he was then its main source of funding. Since 2016, Musk had been sending $5 million payments to OpenAI quarterly as part of a broader $1 billion pledge he made at the organization’s launch. But in the spring of 2017, he stopped sending the money. In another email from August 2017, the head of Musk’s family office, Jared Birchall, asked Musk if he should continue withholding it. Musk responded simply, “Yes.”

Around the time Musk lost the power struggle, emails show that he held discussions with executives at Tesla and Neuralink, his brain-computer interface company, about hiring OpenAI employees. At the time, Musk was still a board member of OpenAI.

Musk sent an email to a Tesla vice president in June 2017 about hiring an early OpenAI researcher, Andrej Karpathy. “Just talked to Andrej and he accepted as joining as director of Tesla Vision,” Musk wrote. “Andrej is arguably the #2 guy in the world in computer vision … The openai guys are gonna want to kill me, but it had to be done.”

On the stand, Musk argued that Karpathy was already interested in leaving OpenAI when he tried to recruit him to Tesla. “Andrej had made his decision. If he’s going to leave OpenAI, he might as well work at Tesla,” Musk said.

In October 2017, Musk also wrote to Ben Rapoport, a cofounder of Neuralink. “Hire independently or directly from OpenAI,” said Musk. “I have no problem if you pitch people at OpenAI to work at Neuralink.”

When pressed about this by Savitt, Musk argued that it would have been illegal for him not to allow Tesla and Neuralink to hire from OpenAI. “It’s illegal to restrict employment. It would be illegal to say you can’t employ people from OpenAI. You can’t have some cabal that stops people from working at the company they want to work at,” Musk said.

#Elon #Musk #Squeezed #OpenAI #Gonna #Killmodel behavior,artificial intelligence,elon musk,openai,sam altman,lawsuits">

How Elon Musk Squeezed OpenAI: They ‘Are Gonna Want to Kill Me’Elon Musk returned to the witness stand on Wednesday to continue telling his side of the story in his legal battle against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Under cross-examination from OpenAI’s lawyers, Musk was pressed on all the ways he tried to squeeze the organization over a 2017 power struggle that he ultimately lost. Around this time, Musk tried to hire away OpenAI researchers and stopped sending it funding he had previously promised, according to emails presented as evidence in the case.As the cross-examination began, tension rippled through the courtroom. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers started the day by reprimanding someone in the gallery for taking a picture of Musk. OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman sat behind his lawyers with a yellow legal pad in his lap, giving Musk a cold stare as he testified. Musk grew visibly frustrated on the witness stand, pausing frequently to tell OpenAI’s lawyer, William Savitt, that he saw his questions as misleading. Meanwhile, Savitt’s cross-examination was derailed by objections, technical issues, and Musk continuously claiming he doesn’t recall key details of OpenAI’s history.Savitt showed the courtroom emails from September 2017 between Musk, Brockman, and researcher Ilya Sutskever discussing the formation of what would become OpenAI’s for-profit arm. In the thread, Musk demanded the right to choose four members of its board of directors, giving him more voting power than his cofounders, who would be left with three in total. “I would unequivocally have initial control of the company, but this will change quickly,” said Musk in one message. Sutskever wrote back rejecting the idea because he said he feared it would give Musk too much power.Months before these negotiations started, Musk had halted payments to OpenAI, which was particularly difficult for the organization because he was then its main source of funding. Since 2016, Musk had been sending million payments to OpenAI quarterly as part of a broader billion pledge he made at the organization’s launch. But in the spring of 2017, he stopped sending the money. In another email from August 2017, the head of Musk’s family office, Jared Birchall, asked Musk if he should continue withholding it. Musk responded simply, “Yes.”Around the time Musk lost the power struggle, emails show that he held discussions with executives at Tesla and Neuralink, his brain-computer interface company, about hiring OpenAI employees. At the time, Musk was still a board member of OpenAI.Musk sent an email to a Tesla vice president in June 2017 about hiring an early OpenAI researcher, Andrej Karpathy. “Just talked to Andrej and he accepted as joining as director of Tesla Vision,” Musk wrote. “Andrej is arguably the #2 guy in the world in computer vision … The openai guys are gonna want to kill me, but it had to be done.”On the stand, Musk argued that Karpathy was already interested in leaving OpenAI when he tried to recruit him to Tesla. “Andrej had made his decision. If he’s going to leave OpenAI, he might as well work at Tesla,” Musk said.In October 2017, Musk also wrote to Ben Rapoport, a cofounder of Neuralink. “Hire independently or directly from OpenAI,” said Musk. “I have no problem if you pitch people at OpenAI to work at Neuralink.”When pressed about this by Savitt, Musk argued that it would have been illegal for him not to allow Tesla and Neuralink to hire from OpenAI. “It’s illegal to restrict employment. It would be illegal to say you can’t employ people from OpenAI. You can’t have some cabal that stops people from working at the company they want to work at,” Musk said.#Elon #Musk #Squeezed #OpenAI #Gonna #Killmodel behavior,artificial intelligence,elon musk,openai,sam altman,lawsuits

mwasimuddin125 0

Elon Musk returned to the witness stand on Wednesday to continue telling his side of the story in his legal battle against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Under cross-examination from OpenAI’s lawyers, Musk was pressed on all the ways he tried to squeeze the organization over a 2017 power struggle that he ultimately lost. Around this time, Musk tried to hire away OpenAI researchers and stopped sending it funding he had previously promised, according to emails presented as evidence in the case.
As the cross-examination began, tension rippled through the courtroom. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers started the day by reprimanding someone in the gallery for taking a picture of Musk. OpenAI president and cofounder Greg Brockman sat behind his lawyers with a yellow legal pad in his lap, giving Musk a cold stare as he testified. Musk grew visibly frustrated on the witness stand, pausing frequently to tell OpenAI’s lawyer, William Savitt, that he saw his questions as misleading. Meanwhile, Savitt’s cross-examination was derailed by objections, technical issues, and Musk continuously claiming he doesn’t recall key details of OpenAI’s history.
Savitt showed the courtroom emails from September 2017 between Musk, Brockman, and researcher Ilya Sutskever discussing the formation of what would become OpenAI’s for-profit arm. In the thread, Musk demanded the right to choose four members of its board of directors, giving him more voting power than his cofounders, who would be left with three in total. “I would unequivocally have initial control of the company, but this will change quickly,” said Musk in one message. Sutskever wrote back rejecting the idea because he said he feared it would give Musk too much power.
Months before these negotiations started, Musk had halted payments to OpenAI, which was particularly difficult for the organization because he was then its main source of funding. Since 2016, Musk had been sending $5 million payments to OpenAI quarterly as part of a broader $1 billion pledge he made at the organization’s launch. But in the spring of 2017, he stopped sending the money. In another email from August 2017, the head of Musk’s family office, Jared Birchall, asked Musk if he should continue withholding it. Musk responded simply, “Yes.”
Around the time Musk lost the power struggle, emails show that he held discussions with executives at Tesla and Neuralink, his brain-computer interface company, about hiring OpenAI employees. At the time, Musk was still a board member of OpenAI.
Musk sent an email to a Tesla vice president in June 2017 about hiring an early OpenAI researcher, Andrej Karpathy. “Just talked to Andrej and he accepted as joining as director of Tesla Vision,” Musk wrote. “Andrej is arguably the #2 guy in the world in computer vision … The openai guys are gonna want to kill me, but it had to be done.”
On the stand, Musk argued that Karpathy was already interested in leaving OpenAI when he tried to recruit him to Tesla. “Andrej had made his decision. If he’s going to leave OpenAI, he might as well work at Tesla,” Musk said.
In October 2017, Musk also wrote to Ben Rapoport, a cofounder of Neuralink. “Hire independently or directly from OpenAI,” said Musk. “I have no problem if you pitch people at OpenAI to work at Neuralink.”
When pressed about this by Savitt, Musk argued that it would have been illegal for him not to allow Tesla and Neuralink to hire from OpenAI. “It’s illegal to restrict employment. It would be illegal to say you can’t employ people from OpenAI. You can’t have some cabal that stops people from working at the company they want to work at,” Musk said.

#Elon #Musk #Squeezed #OpenAI #Gonna #Killmodel behavior,artificial intelligence,elon musk,openai,sam altman,lawsuits">How Elon Musk Squeezed OpenAI: They ‘Are Gonna Want to Kill Me’

#Elon #Musk #Squeezed #OpenAI #Gonna #Killmodel behavior,artificial intelligence,elon musk,openai,sam altman,lawsuits

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