In a candid interview with Bloomberg TV at the Paris AI Action Summit, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman didn’t hold back when discussing Elon Musk’s recent $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI. Altman suggested that Musk’s move was less about advancing AI and more about slowing down OpenAI’s progress.
Altman expressed his frustration, stating:
“I wish he would just compete by building a better product, but I think there’s been a lot of tactics. Many, many lawsuits, all sorts of other crazy stuff, now this. And we’ll try to just put our head down and keep working.”
The Background of the Altman-Musk Feud
The tension between Musk and Altman has been building for years. The two co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk left in 2019 due to disagreements over the company’s direction. Since then, Musk has publicly criticized OpenAI’s pivot toward commercialization and even sued the company, claiming it strayed from its nonprofit mission.
With the rise of xAI, Musk’s own AI company, the rivalry has intensified. His latest bid to acquire OpenAI raised eyebrows, with Altman interpreting it as an attempt to disrupt OpenAI’s momentum rather than a genuine investment in AI innovation.
Altman’s Response to Musk’s Offer
Altman quickly dismissed Musk’s $97.4 billion acquisition offer, reaffirming OpenAI’s independence. He described the bid as another example of Musk’s aggressive tactics, aimed more at control than competition.
In a lighthearted jab, Altman even joked about making a counteroffer to buy Twitter for $9.74 billion, referencing Musk’s controversial takeover of the platform.
Implications for the AI Industry
This public dispute underscores the competitive and often contentious landscape of artificial intelligence. While Musk and Altman share a vision of advancing AI, their approaches differ significantly:
- Elon Musk: Advocates for AI safety and has pushed for regulatory oversight, while also developing AI products under xAI.
- Sam Altman: Prioritizes OpenAI’s mission to democratize AI, despite its commercial partnerships with Microsoft and other tech giants.
The AI arms race is heating up, with power struggles shaping the future of innovation. Whether this rivalry will lead to greater advancements or unnecessary roadblocks remains to be seen.
What’s Next?
With OpenAI pushing forward and Musk continuously challenging its trajectory, the AI industry is witnessing one of its most intense rivalries. The key question remains: Will this competition drive better AI development, or will it create unnecessary distractions?
