The ongoing rivalry between Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI chief Sam Altman reached new heights as Musk spearheaded a $97.4 billion bid to take control of the artificial intelligence company. However, Altman swiftly rejected the offer in a public exchange on Musk’s social media platform, X.
“No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” Altman quipped, referring to Musk’s controversial $44 billion acquisition of the platform in 2022. Musk responded with a curt, one-word reply: “Swindler.”
The tension between the two tech moguls has been brewing since their joint efforts in founding OpenAI in 2015. Musk, an early investor and board member, has repeatedly accused OpenAI of straying from its original mission as a non-profit, open-source entity focused on AI safety.
“It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was,” Musk said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal before making his unsolicited bid. Following Altman’s rejection, Musk took to social media, dubbing him “Scam Altman.”
Musk has been vocal about his distrust of OpenAI’s leadership, particularly its pivot towards a for-profit model. “I started that company as a non-profit open-source. The ‘open’ in OpenAI, I named the company,” he stated. “Now it’s extremely closed-source and maximizing profit.” He further accused Altman of profiting from the venture, suggesting the OpenAI CEO was set to receive $10 billion in stock options.
Musk’s legal battles with OpenAI also underscore the deepening rift. Last year, he filed lawsuits in both California state and federal courts, alleging that the company had abandoned its foundational goal of developing AI for the public good.
The rapid rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT over the past two years has propelled the company to global prominence, sparking internal power struggles. In late 2023, OpenAI’s non-profit board briefly ousted Altman before reinstating him with a revamped leadership team.
The rivalry has extended into political and economic spheres as well. Following Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration in January, his administration announced a $500 billion investment in AI infrastructure, backed by SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI. Musk, a close ally of Trump, cast doubt on the initiative, questioning whether the funding was actually available.
Altman quickly rebutted Musk’s skepticism. “Wrong, as you surely know,” he wrote, defending SoftBank’s financial standing. He also took a swipe at Musk’s political influence, adding, “I realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role, I hope you’ll mostly put America first.”
As the battle over OpenAI’s future intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Musk will continue his takeover attempts or shift focus to his own AI venture, xAI.
