Trump’s Tech Posse in China, Who’s Winning in Musk v. Altman, and Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories

This week on Uncanny Valley, the team dives into Trump’s selected entourage for his high-stakes visit to China, ranging from Silicon Valley’s tech billionaires to Melania director Brett Ratner. We also break down the latest developments in Elon Musk’s lawsuit against Sam Altman, alleging that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission for profit-driven goals, and whether either side is actually gaining an edge in the trial. Plus, Leah shares with us some of the most outlandish conspiracy theories that have been swirling around the hantavirus outbreak.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

• Everyone at the Musk v. Altman Trial Is Using Fancy Butt Cushions
• Elon Musk Had ‘Hair-Raising’ Idea of Passing OpenAI On to His Kids, Sam Altman Says
• Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories Are Already Spreading Online
• Inside the Race to Develop a Test for the Rare Andes Hantavirus

Transcript Highlights

Zoë Schiffer: Today on the show, we're diving into the final week of the Musk v. Altman trial. The high-profile testimonies we've heard this week, including from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman himself, have resurfaced a lot of past events and a lot of drama.

Brian Barrett: Also happening this week, President Trump is headed to China. He's accompanied by a select number of Silicon Valley's top CEOs. We'll discuss how their presence could influence conversations between world leaders.

Leah Feiger: We'll also get into the wild conspiracy theories that have been increasingly swirling around the hantavirus from wellness influencers and grifters, recycling theories from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Musk v. Altman Trial Details: Elon Musk has to convince the jury that he attached special conditions to his $38 million donation and that Altman violated them. A major point of contention is the statute of limitations; Musk claims he only realized the violation in 2023. The trial has revealed embarrassing internal communications, including Sam Altman's stress during his brief ousting and Mira Murati's famous text stating things were "directionally very bad."