In a bold move that underscores the ongoing tension between tech giants, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, firmly rejected Elon Musk’s unsolicited offer to purchase OpenAI for a staggering $97.4 billion. Altman addressed the offer at the Paris AI Action Summit, stating plainly, “OpenAI is not for sale.” His remark sheds light on the growing rivalry between OpenAI and Musk’s AI venture, xAI, as both race to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
Altman took a direct shot at Musk, suggesting that the offer could be driven by insecurity about xAI’s place in the competitive AI landscape. “Probably his whole life is from a position of insecurity. I feel for the guy, I do, I don’t think he’s a happy person,” Altman said. This exchange marks a new level of animosity between the two billionaires, who share a complex history.
Musk’s offer, which was submitted to OpenAI’s board on Monday, came with the intention of refocusing OpenAI as a “safety-focused force of good.” However, Altman swiftly responded with humor, proposing he would buy Musk’s Twitter (now X) for $9.74 billion—a playful jab at Musk’s purchase of the platform in 2022 for $44 billion.
The verbal sparring escalated further when Musk took to social media, calling Altman a “swindler” in retaliation to Altman’s Twitter buyout comment. Musk also shared a video clip of Altman from a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where Altman disclosed he earned $76,000 annually at OpenAI but had no equity in the company. Despite this modest salary, Altman’s net worth is pegged at $2 billion, thanks largely to early investments in high-profile startups like Stripe and Reddit.
Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, left the organization in early 2018 after a fallout with leadership. His departure was followed by several lawsuits accusing OpenAI of deviating from its original mission, particularly in favor of profit-driven moves and investor interests, including a $14 billion stake from Microsoft.
In response, Altman called for Musk to focus on advancing AI technologies through innovation rather than legal disputes or acquisition attempts. “There’s been a lot of tactics, many, many lawsuits, all sorts of other crazy stuff, now this,” Altman said, emphasizing OpenAI’s commitment to its mission.
With Musk still holding the title of the world’s richest person, valued at $395 billion, this dramatic back-and-forth between two of the most powerful figures in tech is sure to continue making waves across industries. The saga is far from over, and the spotlight remains on OpenAI and Musk’s xAI as they battle to dominate the future of artificial intelligence.
