In a dramatic move, Elon Musk seeks majority control of OpenAI, offering $97.4 billion, amid escalating legal battles and disputes over the company’s mission.
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| Elon Musk leads a $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, amid ongoing tensions with CEO Sam Altman and controversy over the company's profit-driven shift. Image/ Illustration: ChicHue |
Washington, USA — February 11, 2025:
Elon Musk is at the helm of a high-stakes bid to purchase OpenAI, the parent company of ChatGPT, for $97.4 billion, in a move that could significantly impact the landscape of artificial intelligence. The offer comes as Musk has long criticized OpenAI's shift from its nonprofit roots to a for-profit model, accusing the company and its CEO, Sam Altman, of misleading the public about its mission, reports CNN.
Musk’s proposal, reported by the Wall Street Journal, would potentially give him majority control of OpenAI, positioning him as a direct competitor to his own AI venture, X.AI. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, left the company in 2018 following disagreements over its direction, particularly as the company transitioned to profit-driven operations.
At the heart of the dispute is the core issue of OpenAI’s evolving mission. Originally founded to ensure artificial general intelligence (AGI) was developed safely and for the public good, OpenAI now operates a nonprofit that controls OpenAI LP, a for-profit entity. This shift, which has led OpenAI to a valuation of $100 billion, has been controversial, with Musk claiming that the company has strayed from its charitable roots.
Marc Toberoff, representing the investors backing Musk’s offer, said in a statement, “It’s time for OpenAI to return to being the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was.” Musk has also raised concerns about the need for fair compensation for the nonprofit’s control over what he believes is the world’s most transformative technology.
In response, Sam Altman dismissed the offer with a cheeky remark on X, stating, “no thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” Musk and Altman have a long history of tensions, particularly as Musk’s legal battles with OpenAI have escalated. Musk first sued the company in 2024, accusing it of prioritizing profit over safety, and later filed a second lawsuit alleging racketeering and a rush to develop AGI technology for financial gain.
The dramatic rise in OpenAI’s valuation, bolstered by major backers like Microsoft and Thrive Capital, has intensified pressure on the company to innovate rapidly, often with early-stage products that raise ethical and safety concerns. The boardroom turmoil within OpenAI, including a controversial firing and rehiring of Altman in late 2023, reflects growing tensions over the balance between progress and safety in the fast-evolving AI industry.
Musk’s latest legal maneuvers and his bid to take control of OpenAI add a new chapter to the ongoing saga of AI’s development, sparking questions about the future direction of both OpenAI and its technology.