OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed Elon Musk’s unsolicited $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI. OpenAI is not for sale. Altman dismissed the offer, stating,
The ongoing rivalry between Sam Altman and Elon Musk has reached new heights recently, becoming personal and incredibly expensive as the future of AI hangs in the balance.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly criticized Musk shortly after he rejected a massive $97.4 billion acquisition offer led by Musk and his group of investors. Speaking at the Paris AI Action Summit, Altman made it clear that OpenAI is not for sale. “Elon has been trying all sorts of things for a long time. This is the latest — you know, this week’s episode,” Altman told Bloomberg TV. “I think he’s probably trying to slow us down.”
Musk, one of OpenAI’s co-founders who left in 2018, has long been at loggerheads with Altman. His recent bid to buy OpenAI is the latest in a series of legal battles and public disputes between the two tech leaders. Musk alleges that OpenAI has strayed from its nonprofit mission and has filed multiple lawsuits accusing the company of prioritizing profit and recklessly pursuing artificial general intelligence. OpenAI, which operates a hybrid nonprofit-for-profit model, denies these claims, arguing that its structure is designed to balance innovation and safety.
Altman did not hold back when addressing Musk’s behavior. “I want him to compete by making better products,” Altman said. “But there have been a lot of tricks — multiple lawsuits and other crazy things. Now this. We’ll just keep our heads down and keep working.”
When asked if Musk’s actions stem from insecurity, Altman’s answer was straightforward: “Maybe his whole life is from a position of insecurity. I feel sorry for him. I don’t think he’s a happy person.”
Musk, who now leads AI company x.AI, has not publicly responded to Altman’s comments. His bid to acquire OpenAI has hampered OpenAI’s plans to potentially restructure its for-profit subsidiary. Although OpenAI is at its core a nonprofit, the for-profit arm helped boost the company’s valuation to nearly $100 billion. The board will have to assess whether Musk’s proposal is consistent with its mission or compromises its values.
Musk’s proposal raises complex questions for OpenAI. While the nonprofit is not obligated to maximize profits, it may face pressure to justify turning down such a large offer — especially if it sets a new valuation benchmark for the company.
For now, Altman is determined to stay on the path. “We are not moving to a profit-making model,” he insisted. “The nonprofit will always pursue the mission. It’s not going anywhere.”
As this battle rages on, the stakes are higher than ever, with two of AI’s most prominent figures embroiled in a conflict that could shape the future of the industry. Whether it is resolved in the boardroom, the courtroom, or through pure technical competition remains to be seen.
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