Musk’s $97.4 Billion OpenAI Bid Rejected; Altman proposes Counter-Offer for X
Table of Contents
| time.news
In a surprising turn of events, openai CEO Sam Altman has rejected a staggering $97.4 billion (approximately 1.09 trillion NOK) takeover bid led by Elon Musk, instead proposing to acquire Musk’s X platform for a tenth of the price.
The wall Street Journal reported the initial bid on Monday, citing Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff. The investor group, spearheaded by Musk and his own artificial intelligence company, xAI, also includes prominent investment firms such as Valor Equity Partners, Baron Capital, Atreides Management, Vy Capital, and 8VC.
Altman’s response, delivered via Musk’s own social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), was succinct: “No, thank you, but we can buy Twitter for 9.74 billion if you want.”
Musk’s retort was equally brief: “svindler.”
Musk’s Push for Open-source AI
Thru his attorney, Musk emphasized the need for OpenAI to return to its open-source roots. “we are going to make sure that happens,”
he declared.
A History of Disagreements
This latest clash adds another chapter to the ongoing saga between Musk and OpenAI. Co-founded in 2015 by Musk, Altman, Greg Brockman, and other investors, OpenAI initially operated as a non-profit. Though, Musk departed in 2018, and the company later transitioned to a for-profit model, partnering with Microsoft in 2019 and launching the groundbreaking language model ChatGPT in 2022.
Musk has since filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, alleging a breach of the company’s original commitment to developing AI for the benefit of humanity. He contends that OpenAI’s partnership with microsoft and its commercial focus deviate from this initial mission.
Timeline of Key Events:
- 2015: OpenAI founded by Musk, Altman, and others.
- 2018: Musk leaves OpenAI.
- 2019: OpenAI forms a partnership with Microsoft.
- 2022: ChatGPT launched by OpenAI.
- 2025: Musk leads a $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI, which is rejected by Altman.
OpenAI vs. Musk: A $97.4 Billion Rejection and the Future of AI - Expert Analysis
Time.news Editor: Welcome, everyone, to Time.news. Today, we’re diving into a fascinating development in the world of artificial intelligence: Elon Musk’s audacious $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI.To break down what this means for the future of AI and the tech landscape, we have Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading AI ethics and business strategy consultant, with us. Dr. Sharma, welcome.
Dr. Anya Sharma: Thank you for having me.
Time.news Editor: Let’s start with the headline itself. Dr. Sharma, OpenAI rejecting a $97.4 billion offer from Musk feels almost amazing. What’s your initial reaction to this news?
Dr. Anya Sharma: It’s certainly a bold move from OpenAI, and speaks volumes about their current valuation and future ambitions. rejecting such a substantial offer suggests they believe their current trajectory is worth even more, potentially hundreds of billions, in the long run. It also highlights the deep disagreements that exist regarding the direction and control of cutting-edge AI like theirs. The proposed counter-offer for X at a fraction of the initial bid is a power move as well, as there are benefits to having a social media platform as a distribution channel and training system for AI models.
Time.news Editor: The article mentions Musk’s attorney emphasizing the need for OpenAI to return to its open-source roots. Why is musk so adamant about this, and what are the implications of OpenAI being open-source versus remaining a for-profit, closed-source company? Target keywords: Open-source AI, AI development, Elon Musk OpenAI.
Dr. Anya Sharma: Musk has a long-standing belief that AI should be developed transparently and for the benefit of all humanity.Open-source allows for greater scrutiny, collaboration, and potentially faster innovation, and also guards against the AI becoming too proprietary and potentially being used for ill purposes. However,transitioning to a for-profit model allows for the kind of funding and scalability needed for AI development at OpenAI’s scale. Closed-source models,while potentially more profitable as they can be licensed,raise concerns about control,bias,and potential misuse. The debate is essentially about accessibility versus control in the development of powerful AI.
Time.news Editor: The history between Musk and OpenAI is complex.He co-founded it, then left, and now he’s suing them. The article highlights the lawsuit alleging a breach of the original commitment to developing AI for the benefit of humanity. Is there legitimacy to this claim? Target keywords: OpenAI lawsuit, AI ethics, AI for humanity.
Dr.Anya Sharma: The core of Musk’s argument, I believe, rests on openai’s shift from a non-profit to a for-profit entity and its close partnership with microsoft. He likely argues that this shift compromises the original mission of prioritizing the beneficial development of AI. There is a great deal of discussion and argument about the need to keep safety at the core of any for-profit models for AI. Whether this constitutes a legal breach is something the courts will decide, but it does raise basic questions about the ethical responsibilities of AI developers and the potential conflicts that arise when profit motives are prioritized over societal benefit.
Time.news Editor: following this news, what actionable advice can you give to our readers who are either involved in the AI industry, are investors, or simply interested in understanding this evolving landscape?
Dr. Anya Sharma:
For AI Professionals: Consider the ethical implications of your work. Advocate for transparency and accountability within your organizations. Focus on building AI that aligns with human values.
For Investors: Due diligence matters. Look beyond the hype and carefully assess the long-term societal impact of AI companies before investing. Consider companies that prioritize ethical development and responsible deployment.
* For the General Public: Stay informed. Understand that AI will be the defining technology of our time, and become informed. Participate in discussions about AI policy. Demand transparency and accountability from the companies and governments developing and deploying AI technology.
Target keywords: AI investment, AI ethics, responsible AI development
Time.news Editor: Dr. Sharma,this has been incredibly insightful. Thank you for shedding light on this complex and evolving story.
Dr. Anya Sharma: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.