Paris, France| A fresh and dramatic confrontation has unfolded between two of the biggest names in artificial intelligence, as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman firmly rejected a reported $97.4 billion takeover bid from tech magnate Elon Musk.
The rejection, made clear at a tech business event on the sidelines of the Paris AI summit, underscores the deepening rivalry between the two former allies-turned-business competitors.
OpenAI’s Mission vs. Musk’s Bid
Speaking at the event, Altman reiterated OpenAI’s commitment to its founding principles, stating, “OpenAI has a mission… of making AGI benefit all of humanity. We are not for sale.”
His comments came in response to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which revealed that Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, had made a formal offer to acquire the company.
The bid, which would have valued OpenAI at nearly $100 billion, was met with skepticism and outright dismissal from the AI firm’s leadership.
OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, pointedly described the move as an attempt by a struggling competitor to regain footing in the AI arms race.
“Musk’s offer comes from a competitor who has struggled to keep up with the technology and compete with us in the marketplace,” Lehane stated.
Musk’s xAI, founded in 2023 as a direct challenge to OpenAI, has yet to achieve the same level of market penetration as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which remains the dominant AI chatbot globally.
A High-Stakes Power Struggle in AI
The latest spat between Musk and Altman represents more than just a business dispute—it is a battle for dominance in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.
AI has become the epicenter of technological and economic transformation, with Altman likening the moment to previous industrial revolutions.
“Maybe it was like this at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Maybe it was like this at the beginning of the internet,” Altman remarked, highlighting AI’s unparalleled economic and technological potential.
OpenAI’s transformation into a for-profit entity and its ongoing fundraising efforts suggest that it is seeking to fortify its position rather than entertain acquisition offers.
The company has secured significant investments, including a multibillion-dollar partnership with Microsoft, reinforcing its independence in the AI race.
Altman’s Counterattack: A Twitter Offer
Adding an unexpected twist to the saga, Altman fired back at Musk in a way that captured headlines worldwide.
In a social media post on Musk’s own platform, X (formerly Twitter), Altman cheekily offered to buy Twitter for $9.74 billion—a fraction of the $44 billion Musk paid for the company in 2022.
“No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” Altman wrote, in a clear jab at Musk’s controversial and financially turbulent acquisition of the social media platform.
The response underscores not only the personal animosity between the two figures but also the shifting balance of power in the tech world.
While Musk remains the wealthiest person on the planet, his foray into AI through xAI has yet to disrupt OpenAI’s lead.
The Broader AI Landscape and What’s Next
This high-stakes drama reflects broader tensions in the AI industry, as companies race to develop increasingly advanced models.
OpenAI remains at the forefront with its GPT models, while Musk’s xAI, Google’s DeepMind, and Anthropic are vying to close the gap.
Musk, who helped co-found OpenAI in 2015 before severing ties in 2018, has long criticized the organization’s pivot to a for-profit structure and its deep partnership with Microsoft.
His bid to acquire OpenAI, however, signals recognition of the company’s unparalleled progress in the field.
As the AI revolution accelerates, the clash between Altman and Musk is likely to continue, shaping the industry’s future.
Whether OpenAI remains independent or faces further acquisition attempts, one thing is certain—the AI battle is far from over.
For now, OpenAI stands firm: it is not for sale.
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