Sam Altman responds to Musk's Open AI bid with humor: 'No thanks ...'
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded to Elon Musk’s USD 97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI’s assets with a witty remark, saying, “No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
Controversy Sparks Over Musk's Bid
This exchange comes after a group of investors led by Musk, including his AI company Xai, Vy Capital, and Hollywood mogul Ari Emanuel, made the unsolicited offer, sparking controversy. Musk’s bid could disrupt OpenAI’s ongoing efforts to secure a USD 40 billion funding round, which could push the company’s valuation to USD 300 billion, placing it among the most valuable private companies globally.
SoftBank Leading New Funding Round
The new funding round, led by the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, is expected to value OpenAI at USD 300 billion, according to three sources familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity. If completed, this deal would place OpenAI among the most valuable private companies globally, alongside Musk's SpaceX and ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, according to The New York Times.
Legal Disputes Between Musk and Altman
Notably, Musk and Altman have been at loggerheads for quite some time. In August last year, Musk filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI of putting profits before its initial nonprofit mission of advancing AI in a way that benefits all of humanity. This month, a United States federal judge has said that parts of Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI to halt its conversion to a for-profit entity might go to trial, adding that the Tesla CEO will have to appear in court and testify, Al Jazeera reported.
Co-Founders Turned Competitors
It is pertinent to note that Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015 but left before the company took off and subsequently founded the competing AI startup xAI in 2023. The two tech entrepreneurs have been engaging in feuds lately, with Musk's criticism of a joint AI venture that drew Altman's response urging Musk to prioritize the country's interests.
This is great for the country. i realize what is great for the country isn't always what's optimal for your companies, but in your new role i hope you'll mostly put [America] first," Altman wrote, attaching an American flag emoji.
