The tension between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, continues to grow. Musk’s attempt to take control of OpenAI has sparked a strong response from Altman. Altman attributed Musk’s actions to “insecurity,” stating, “Probably, his whole life is from a position of insecurity.” Moreover, Altman suggested that Musk is not a “happy person.”
OpenAI Is Not for Sale
In response to Musk’s bid, Altman made it clear that OpenAI is not for sale. He emphasized, “OpenAI is not for sale. The OpenAI mission is not for sale.” This bid follows Musk’s ongoing attempt to block OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, which is part of a broader federal lawsuit involving Microsoft and Altman.
Musk’s Attempt to Slow Down OpenAI
It is important to note that Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015 but left before the company gained prominence. Recently, Musk led a group of investors who offered $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI. In response, Altman rejected the offer with a humorous remark on X, saying, “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
Musk’s Competitive Tactics
Altman believes Musk’s actions are not just about acquiring OpenAI, but also about gaining a competitive edge. He explained, “I think he is probably just trying to slow us down. He obviously is a competitor.” Furthermore, Altman criticized Musk for resorting to “many lawsuits and other crazy stuff” instead of focusing on building a better product.
OpenAI Board’s Role in the Decision
Despite Altman’s public rejection, the final decision lies with the OpenAI board. Larry Summers, a director at OpenAI, revealed that Musk had not yet made any formal communication about the bid. Thus, the board will have a crucial role in determining whether the offer should be taken seriously.
Support for Musk’s Offer
Musk’s bid is backed by his company, xAI, as well as several investors. These include Valor Equity Partners, Baron Capital, Atreides Management, Vy Capital, and media executive Ari Emanuel’s investment fund. Consequently, this backing adds weight to Musk’s offer.
OpenAI’s Future Valuation
Meanwhile, OpenAI is working on a fundraising effort that could value the company at $300 billion. This represents a significant increase from its previous valuation of $157 billion in October 2022. Notably, OpenAI recently overhauled its leadership, adding new directors such as Larry Summers and Adebayo Ogunlesi to guide the company forward.