Tech titans Elon Musk and Sam Altman are locked in a fierce battle over the future of OpenAI, the company behind groundbreaking AI tool ChatGPT. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been trying to shut down Altman’s plans to restructure the company from a hybridized nonprofit into a for-profit entity.
Musk offered $97.4 billion to buy OpenAI in an effort to preserve its original mission of research and safety, but Altman rebuffed the offer. In response, Musk stated that he would drop his offer if OpenAI remains a nonprofit, which would prevent the company from accessing potentially billions of dollars in funding.
The feud between the two CEOs has escalated into public barbs and accusations of character. Musk portrayed Altman as “greedy” and “unscrupulous,” while Altman called Musk motivated by “own demons.”
OpenAI’s proposed restructuring aims to acquire its next round of funding from Softbank, valued at $260 billion. However, the company faces challenges in determining fair market value for its assets after a potential conversion.
Musk filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, claiming the company had become a de facto subsidiary of Microsoft and calling the deal a “deceit of Shakespearean proportions.” The US and European regulators are watching the situation closely, as OpenAI’s restructuring could set a precedent in the tech industry.
In court filings, Altman’s lawyer stated that Musk’s concerns about OpenAI’s future do not apply if he is the one buying the company.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/2/14/why-are-elon-musk-and-sam-altman-engaged-in-a-war-of-words-over-openai