Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), has made a bold move to regain control over OpenAI, the company he co-founded in 2015.
Musk, along with a consortium of investors, reportedly offered a staggering $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI’s nonprofit arm in an attempt to steer the company back to its original mission. However, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, wasted no time in rejecting the offer, escalating the already contentious relationship between the two tech titans.
Musk’s Longstanding Discontent with OpenAI
Musk was instrumental in the early days of OpenAI, helping to fund the company and shape its initial goals. However, he departed from OpenAI’s board in 2018, citing concerns over the company’s shift from a nonprofit research lab to a for-profit model. Since then, he has been increasingly vocal about his dissatisfaction with OpenAI’s direction, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over the broader benefit of humanity.
In early 2024, Musk took his grievances a step further by filing a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman, alleging that the company had abandoned its mission to develop artificial intelligence for the public good. Musk has frequently expressed concerns about the potential dangers of AI, advocating for more stringent regulations and transparency in AI development.
Altman’s Counteroffer: Buy Twitter Instead
Following Musk’s massive bid, Sam Altman responded in an unexpected way—by offering to buy X (formerly Twitter) from Musk for $9.74 billion. The counteroffer, while likely made in jest, highlights the growing tensions between the two leaders and their vastly different visions for AI and technology governance.
Altman has been at the forefront of OpenAI’s evolution, spearheading its partnership with Microsoft and securing billions in funding to advance AI research and commercialization. His leadership has transformed OpenAI into a dominant force in the AI space, with ChatGPT becoming one of the most widely used AI tools globally. Musk’s bid to take over OpenAI appears to be an attempt to reclaim influence over a company he believes has strayed from its founding principles.
Why Musk Wants OpenAI Back
Musk has repeatedly warned about the dangers of artificial intelligence, cautioning that AI could become an existential threat if not properly controlled. He has also been highly critical of OpenAI’s close ties with Microsoft, arguing that the company has become a de facto subsidiary of Big Tech rather than a truly independent organization focused on AI safety.
His attempt to buy OpenAI is likely an effort to shift the company back toward its original nonprofit structure and ensure that its developments serve humanity rather than corporate interests. However, given OpenAI’s current trajectory and its deep integration with Microsoft’s ecosystem, Musk’s takeover bid was always a long shot.
What Happens Next?
With Altman firmly rejecting Musk’s offer, it’s unclear what the next move will be. Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI is still ongoing, and his criticisms of the company’s direction aren’t likely to fade anytime soon. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to push forward with advancements in AI, with Altman focusing on expanding its capabilities and commercial applications.
This latest clash between Musk and Altman underscores the broader debate over the future of AI—who controls it, how it should be developed, and whether it should remain in the hands of private corporations or be governed by more open, nonprofit entities.
As the AI arms race intensifies, one thing is certain: Elon Musk isn’t done challenging OpenAI, and this battle is far from over.
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