Sam Altman Drops Bombshell on Musk’s Shocking Move Against OpenAI!
The growing rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has taken another turn, with the OpenAI CEO claiming that Musk’s $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI is merely an attempt to disrupt and slow down competitors in the artificial intelligence industry.
Altman, who has been at the center of OpenAI’s rapid expansion, dismissed Musk’s bid, suggesting it was not a genuine acquisition attempt but rather a strategic move to hinder OpenAI’s progress.
Altman: Musk’s Offer Is Not Serious
Reports surfaced earlier this month that Musk, along with a group of investors, was attempting to gain control of OpenAI by offering nearly $100 billion for its nonprofit arm. However, in a statement to CNBC, Altman said he doesn’t take the offer seriously and believes it is simply a competitive maneuver.
“I don’t know, I’m curious. I think it’s an act of slowing down competitors and trying to catch up,” Altman said.
Speaking at the AI Summit in Paris on February 11, Altman reinforced his stance, telling Reuters: “I have nothing to say. I mean, it’s ridiculous. The company is not for sale. This is another one of his tactics to try to disrupt us.”
A Public War of Words on X
The ongoing tension between Musk and Altman has played out publicly, particularly on X (formerly Twitter).
When news broke of Musk’s $97.4 billion bid, Altman took to X with a sarcastic reply: “No thanks, but we’ll buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
Musk responded with a sharp comeback: “Scammer.”
This exchange is just the latest in a series of social media clashes between the two tech leaders, whose relationship has deteriorated since Musk’s departure from OpenAI in 2019.
The $500 Billion Stargate Controversy
Beyond Musk’s acquisition bid, another point of contention between the two is the $500 billion Stargate project—an ambitious infrastructure initiative aimed at developing and running advanced AI models in the U.S.
Musk previously claimed that OpenAI lacked the necessary funding to contribute to the project, implying that Altman’s company was not financially prepared to participate at the scale required. However, Altman rejected this claim, stating: “I’m not the one making bold claims about securing capital. I’m just here to focus on building.”
Altman’s remark was widely interpreted as a reference to Musk’s infamous 2018 claim that he had secured funding to take Tesla private at $420 per share—a statement that led to an SEC investigation and a $20 million settlement for misleading investors.
How Musk’s Offer Could Impact OpenAI’s Future
According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk’s aggressive acquisition attempt could have significant implications for OpenAI’s fundraising efforts and long-term strategy.
While OpenAI has been rapidly expanding, the company is still in the process of securing new investments to further develop its AI technologies, particularly ChatGPT and other advanced AI models. If Musk’s bid creates uncertainty among investors, it could complicate OpenAI’s ability to raise capital and execute its future plans.
The Growing Divide Between Musk and OpenAI
Musk was one of the co-founders of OpenAI in 2015, alongside Altman and others. At the time, the organization was nonprofit and committed to open-source AI development. However, Musk left in 2019 after clashing with Altman and the leadership team over the direction of the company.
Since then, OpenAI has transformed into a for-profit entity and secured major investments from companies like Microsoft. Musk has openly criticized this shift, arguing that OpenAI has abandoned its original mission and become too corporate-driven.
Meanwhile, Musk has pursued his own AI ambitions through xAI, a company he founded in 2023 to develop open-source alternatives to OpenAI’s technology.
What’s Next for Musk, Altman, and OpenAI?
The ongoing battle between Musk and Altman is unlikely to settle anytime soon, and its outcome could shape the future of artificial intelligence development. Key questions remain:
1. Will OpenAI remain independent?
– Altman insists the company is not for sale, but Musk’s pressure could affect investor confidence.
2. Will Musk pursue legal action?
– Given his history with OpenAI, a legal challenge or another competitive move could be on the horizon.
3. How will this impact the AI industry?
– The rivalry highlights the broader power struggle in the AI sector, with Musk and Altman pushing competing visions for the future.
As the tech world watches this high-stakes conflict unfold, one thing is certain—the battle over OpenAI is far from over.
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