Altman Rebuts Musk’s $97.4 Billion OpenAI Bid with a Sharp Rejoinder

OpenAI’s Stand: Not for Sale

At the Paris AI Summit, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, dismissed Elon Musk’s bold proposal to acquire OpenAI’s assets for USD 97.4 billion, calling the bid a tactic born out of personal insecurity rather than genuine business intent.

Altman criticized Musk during an interview with Bloomberg Television, remarking, "It’s likely that he has lived his entire life in a state of insecurity." He continued to express sympathy for Musk, noting, "I sympathize with the man. I don’t think he’s a happy person."

Emphatically, Altman reiterated that OpenAI remains independent and is firmly not for sale. He suggested that this controversial bid, which emerged from Musk and his consortium of investors, is designed merely to disrupt the company’s progress. "It’s just another one of his tactics to try and mess with us," Altman explained, hinting that Musk’s strategy might be to slow OpenAI down.

The Background of a Battle

A brief look into the history of OpenAI puts things into perspective:

• 2015: OpenAI was founded as a nonprofit by Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and others, aiming to challenge the dominance of tech giants in the AI arena.
• Post-2015: Disagreements led Musk to part ways with OpenAI, paving the way for Altman to take the helm as CEO.
• 2019 Onward: OpenAI transitioned into a for-profit model, attracting major investments from companies like Microsoft, even as the nonprofit arm continues its own journey.

Over the years, Musk’s contentious relationship with OpenAI deepened, marked by multiple lawsuits and public jabs, including calling Altman a "swindler." Recently, Musk argued that it’s time for OpenAI to bring back its open-source, safety-first philosophy.

The Broader Implications

Reporting by major outlets, including the New York Post and The New York Times, highlighted that Musk’s investors—comprising high-profile names like Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and various influential venture firms—backed the extraordinary $97.4 billion proposal. In a playful counter, Altman quipped, "No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want," underscoring the audacity of Musk’s initiative.

The clash over OpenAI’s direction encapsulates the ideological and strategic battles shaping the future of artificial intelligence, with both leaders advocating starkly different visions for innovation and corporate governance.