Elon Musk has criticized Sam Altman’s new AI venture, Stargate, claiming it lacks sufficient funding to build artificial general intelligence (AGI). Altman defended Stargate during a public exchange with Musk, where he also shared nostalgic memories of Donald Trump and expressed tentative agreement on the Trump administration.
The feud between the two tech leaders intensified after Musk criticized OpenAI’s partnership with SoftBank and Oracle on Twitter, stating the companies don’t have the funds to support Stargate fully. Altman responded by highlighting his respect for Musk’s achievements but argued Musk was mistaken about the project’s financial feasibility. He also invited Musk to inspect one of Stargate’s infrastructure sites in New Mexico.
Musk hasn’t directly replied to Altman’s comments, though he previously referenced a December tweet from Altman that thanked LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman for stopping Trump’s re-election chances in 2020. Earlier this year, Altman expressed moderate agreement with Trump during his inauguration.
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Musk and Altman, who once collaborated on OpenAI but have since engaged in public feuds. Their relationship has been further strained by past conflicts, including a lawsuit filed by Musk against OpenAI. Despite their disagreements, Altman remains largely respectful of Musk, calling him “Swindly Sam,” while acknowledging his flaws.
This latest exchange underscores the volatile dynamic between the two influential figures in the AI and tech industries.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/24-hours-of-elon-musk-and-sam-altmans-stargate-debate-2025-1