Sam Altman has rejected Elon Musk’s proposal, making it clear that OpenAI is not available for acquisition, especially by millionaires with capricious intentions.
The CEO of OpenAI has downplayed Musk’s offer to take control of the company, suggesting that it is a tactic by the magnate to slow down a competitor. Altman believes the proposal should not be taken seriously, especially coming from someone like Elon Musk.
During his participation at the AI Action Summit in Paris, Altman spoke about the potential acquisition of OpenAI by Musk. Hours after a formal offer to acquire the nonprofit subsidiary became known, the leader of OpenAI expressed that he remains calm. He also noted that he has not given importance to the offer, something he had already made clear in a post on X.
“I think it’s a way to try to slow down a competitor and catch up with their own projects, though I’m not sure… to the extent that anyone does,” Altman commented. In an interview with Sky News, the CEO of OpenAI made it evident that the company is not willing to be sold to the highest bidder, much less to Elon Musk.
“OpenAI is not for sale. Our mission is not for sale, especially when a competitor who cannot surpass us in the market simply tries to buy us without considering our vision at all,” stated Altman.
Altman also responded to Musk’s skepticism regarding the funding of the Stargate project. A few weeks ago, Elon publicly questioned the financial capacity of the involved companies, to which Altman replied with irony.
“I wasn’t the one who tweeted that funding was guaranteed. In fact, I just focus on showing up and building,” said the CEO of OpenAI, referring to a tweet by Elon Musk in 2018 that led to an investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Elon Musk and Sam Altman Battle for Control of OpenAI
Altman’s statements have caused a stir, and Musk’s response was not long in coming. The Tesla leader reacted with a series of insults on his X account, accusing Altman of being a fraud and sharing a video in which he claims that OpenAI is no longer “open,” as originally planned.
This clash between Musk and Altman is not surprising, especially considering that there is an ongoing legal battle in the background. Although Musk presents his offer as an attempt to correct OpenAI’s alleged deviation from its initial principles, the truth is that the magnate has sought to control the company from the beginning.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director