Some fantastically weird protest art is popping up outside the OpenAI trial

FastCompany: On April 27, jury selection began at the Oakland, California, federal courthouse for a high-stakes legal showdown between tech CEOs Elon Musk and Sam Altman . Outside the building, a giant cardboard cutout of Musk (dripping wet in a pair of swim shorts) stared down onlookers, while someone in a robot costume led two protestors around in chains. These visual spectacles are part of a larger protest that’s emerging around the trial—which began with opening arguments on April 28—and the two widely disliked tech bros at its center.

The trial stems from a lawsuit, filed by Musk in 2024 , which argues that ChatGPT-maker Open AI and its CEO, Altman, abandoned the company’s original mission to develop artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity and not for profit . Musk provided key funding for OpenAI when it was founded back in 2015, before ultimately falling out with Altman over his vision for the company and founding a competitor, xAI , in 2023. Essentially, the trial amounts to two of the world’s richest and most powerful men duking it out over what the future of AI should look like and airing their personal dirty laundry in the process.

In response, on-the-ground protestors at the courthouse are using creative works of art to convey one central message: “Everyone sucks here.” [Photo: Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images] “Whoever wins, we lose” The most prominent group organizing outside the Musk v. Altman trial is Tesla Takedown , an action coalition that led nationwide protests against Tesla dealerships in 2025. In a post to the site Action Network, the group announced a gathering on April 27 that it called “Musk vs Altman: Whoever Wins, We Lose.” “Elon Musk is losing the AI arms race as xAI flails and stumbles,” the post reads.

“If he wins this case, he severely damages the leader and gives himself a chance to catch up.” Meanwhile, it continues, Altman is “helping Trump build killer robots and mass surveillance” and bringing the U.S. closer to a “technofascist” state. “If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that EVERYONE SUCKS HERE. And that’s what we’re making our theme!” The post concludes with a call for protestors to show up at the courthouse with signs and art related to that theme—and attendees did not disappoint. Monday’s protest art bore a striking resemblance to protests in Portland, Oregon , against U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement in late 2025, which used weaponized ridiculousness—like animal costumes, memes, and silly songs—to punch up at the Trump administration. Likewise, protestors outside the Oakland courthouse now are using humor to drum up attention and get their point across. [Photo: Karl Mondon/AFP/Getty Images] Inflatables, robots, and swimsuit shots On Monday, at least four inflatables mocking Musk appeared amid the crowd.

A bright red tube man , in the classic style you might see outside a car wash, waved its arms at passersby while emblazoned with the all-caps declaration “ELON SUCKS.” Someone customized a pair of inflatable punching bags with printouts of Musk and Altman’s faces, encouraging people to take a shot. [Photo: Karl Mondon/AFP/Getty Images] Another tube man was made specifically in Musk’s image. It parodied a moment in January 2025 when, at an inauguration rally for President Trump, Musk appeared to perform a Nazi salute .

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The article discusses a unique intersection of art and protest related to a high-profile trial, showcasing innovative visual strategies that can inform brand strategies, making it significant and relevant to brand professionals.