 "On a more personal front, Altman took aim at Musk, saying he does not believe the billionaire is happy and that much of his behaviour stems from a deep sense of insecurity. “I feel for the guy,” Altman remarked. Image Credit: Reuters, Reuters")
The ongoing rivalry between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken a sharp turn, with Altman publicly rejecting Musk’s attempt to buy OpenAI. In a series of statements on Tuesday,
Altman suggested that Musk is acting out of insecurity and personal frustration rather than genuine interest in the company’s mission.
This latest clash between the two AI leaders comes amid a larger power struggle over the future of artificial intelligence, with both Musk and Altman positioning themselves as key players in shaping US policy under the Trump administration.
OpenAI’s firm rejection of Musk’s bid
Musk’s offer to buy OpenAI’s for-profit assets for $97.4 billion was swiftly dismissed by Altman, who made it clear that the company is not for sale. In response to the bid, Altman posted a tongue-in-cheek remark on X, suggesting that OpenAI would instead consider buying Twitter for $9.74 billion. He later confirmed in an interview with Axios that OpenAI had not received any formal offer from Musk and that, even if it did, the board would reject it outright.
Adding to the escalating war of words, Musk fired back by calling Altman “Scam Altman” and accusing him of misleading the public about his role at OpenAI. He shared a 2023 clip of Altman stating he had no personal equity in the company, implying that Altman’s motivations were not as altruistic as he claims.
A personal feud with bigger implications
Altman, in an interview with Bloomberg, described Musk’s bid as yet another attempt to disrupt OpenAI’s progress. He argued that Musk is not a genuine buyer but a direct competitor who is trying to slow the company down, given his own AI venture, xAI.
On a more personal front, Altman took aim at Musk, saying he does not believe the billionaire is happy and that much of his behaviour stems from a deep sense of insecurity. “I feel for the guy,” Altman remarked, adding that Musk has resorted to a series of aggressive tactics—including lawsuits and now this acquisition attempt—to challenge OpenAI’s position in the AI race.
OpenAI employees concerned
Internally, OpenAI employees have reportedly responded to Musk’s bid with a mix of anxiety and frustration. Altman addressed staff in a letter, reinforcing that OpenAI’s governance structure prevents any single individual from taking control of the company. He stressed that Musk’s actions have nothing to do with OpenAI’s mission or values, framing the bid as another strategic move by a rival AI company rather than a legitimate offer.
While Musk continues to push his own AI agenda through xAI, OpenAI remains focused on advancing its technology and navigating the regulatory landscape. For now, Altman has left no room for negotiation, making it clear that OpenAI has no intention of letting Musk—or anyone else—take control of its future. However, with the battle lines drawn, the power struggle between these two AI titans is far from over.