(Image source from: News24online.com)
Elon Musk, who had previously taken legal action against OpenAI, is now attempting to acquire the organization. Recent information indicates that Musk, backed by a group of investors, presented a bid of $97 billion to CEO Sam Altman to buy OpenAI. Altman, however, turned down the proposal with a decisive, "no thank you." Reports from the Wall Street Journal reveal that Musk and his investment team have formally reached out to OpenAI's board with a plan to take control and return the entity to its nonprofit roots. Musk's attorney, Marc Toberoff, remarked that if Altman and the current board wish to transition OpenAI into a fully profit-driven enterprise, it is vital that the charity receives fair compensation for relinquishing control over such revolutionary technology. In response, Altman declined the offer on Musk's social media platform, X, jokingly suggesting, “No thanks, but if you’re interested, we’d be open to purchasing Twitter for $9.74 billion.” This comment playfully alluded to Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now known as X, for $44 billion in 2022.
Musk's bid came after he initiated two lawsuits against OpenAI in 2024. The first, filed in July, accused the organization of straying from its foundational values, especially its pivot towards a more commercial and profit-oriented approach. Musk believed this transition jeopardized OpenAI’s mission by putting it under the sway of corporate interests instead of concentrating on broader societal benefits. The disputes underscored the clash between Musk’s vision of AI as a nonprofit initiative and OpenAI’s aspirations for growth and profit. In August 2024, Musk filed another lawsuit, alleging that OpenAI was hastily working to develop advanced “artificial general intelligence” technologies primarily to “maximize profits” and accused the organization of engaging in racketeering activities.
Musk's legal actions against OpenAI emerge from a rising friction with the company he helped establish. As a founding supporter of OpenAI, an organization dedicated to artificial intelligence with a nonprofit mission, Musk grew increasingly discontent with its evolving direction, particularly following its adoption of a “capped-profit” model that he believed betrayed its original goals. Additionally, he has voiced concerns regarding OpenAI's leadership and the potential implications this has for the future of AI technology.
