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Elon Musk Makes $97.4 Billion Bid to Take Over OpenAI—Sam Altman Fires Back

 


In yet another dramatic twist in the artificial intelligence industry, Elon Musk and his consortium have made a staggering $97.4 billion offer to acquire the nonprofit entity controlling OpenAI. The move, announced Monday, marks a bold attempt by Musk to reclaim influence over the AI research organization he co-founded but later parted ways with.

Musk vs. Altman: A Rivalry Rekindled

Musk’s bid is the latest escalation in his long-standing feud with OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman. The billionaire entrepreneur believes OpenAI has drifted from its original nonprofit mission and has instead prioritized profit over public good.

Altman, however, wasted no time in responding. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he dismissed the offer with a sharp-witted retort:
"No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want."

The jab highlights the ongoing power struggle between the two tech moguls, who once worked side by side in founding OpenAI but have since taken opposing paths in the AI arms race.

The Origins of the Battle

OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit focused on ensuring artificial intelligence benefits humanity. Musk, along with Altman and other prominent figures, launched the initiative with the vision of creating transparent, open-source AI models. However, Musk left the company in 2018, citing differences in vision.

Since then, OpenAI has undergone a transformation, shifting toward a "capped-profit" model to attract investment. This move has sparked controversy, especially as the company has secured funding from tech giant Microsoft, which has invested billions into OpenAI’s research and development.

Musk, now at the helm of his own AI startup, xAI, has been vocal about his concerns regarding OpenAI’s direction. In August last year, he filed a lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI, claiming they abandoned their nonprofit mission in favor of a corporate-driven approach.

Can Musk Pull Off the Takeover?

The billionaire’s takeover attempt faces significant hurdles, both financial and legal. While Musk’s $165 billion stake in Tesla could help finance the deal, raising funds of this magnitude would require strategic moves, such as selling stock, securing loans, or leveraging assets like SpaceX.

Adding another layer of complexity, OpenAI was recently valued at $157 billion, and reports suggest that SoftBank is considering leading a funding round at a valuation as high as $300 billion.

Industry experts believe Musk’s bid could disrupt OpenAI’s fundraising efforts and its transition to a for-profit model. Some analysts argue that OpenAI’s board has a fiduciary responsibility to consider Musk’s offer seriously, especially if it presents a competitive alternative to other investors.

What’s Next?

For now, OpenAI’s board seems uninterested in Musk’s offer, with reports indicating that it has no intention of entertaining his proposal. However, with billions at stake and tensions running high, this saga is far from over.

Will Musk succeed in his attempt to take back OpenAI, or will Altman and his team push forward with their vision? One thing is certain: the battle for the future of AI is heating up, and the world is watching closely.

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