Tech stocks today: Elon Musk loses court battle against OpenAI, Samsung extends talks to avert looming strike

May 19, 2026 - 04:47

Nvidia's upcoming earnings report is set to dominate the attention of tech investors this week, but two other major stories are already shaking the sector. In a significant legal setback for Elon Musk, a federal judge ruled against his attempt to block OpenAI from converting into a for-profit entity. The court decision clears a major hurdle for the ChatGPT maker as it pursues a new corporate structure, though Musk's legal team has signaled plans to appeal. The ruling sent ripples through the AI investment community, with shares of several AI-related firms seeing modest moves in pre-market trading.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has managed to buy more time in its labor negotiations. The company extended talks with its largest workers' union to avert a potential strike that could disrupt production of memory chips and other key components. The union had threatened to walk out over wage disputes and working conditions, raising concerns about supply chain stability in the global semiconductor market. Samsung's shares held steady as investors welcomed the temporary truce, though analysts warn that a prolonged negotiation could still impact output.

With Nvidia set to report quarterly results later this week, the broader tech market remains on edge. The chipmaker's performance is widely seen as a bellwether for the AI boom, and any deviation from expectations could trigger sharp moves across the sector.