Elon Musk attempts to acquire OpenAI, faces rejection from Sam Altman

Tech billionaire Elon Musk, after previously taking legal action against OpenAI, has now attempted to acquire the company with a staggering $97 billion offer. Reports indicate that Musk, backed by a group of investors, approached OpenAI CEO Sam Altman with a buyout proposal, which was swiftly rejected.

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Musk’s offer aimed to regain control of OpenAI and revert it to its nonprofit origins. His legal team argued that if the organization was to fully embrace a for-profit model, its original charitable foundation should be properly compensated for the transition. However, OpenAI’s leadership showed no interest in Musk’s proposal.

In response to the acquisition attempt, Altman reportedly turned down the offer with a firm refusal. He later responded on social media with a lighthearted remark, suggesting that OpenAI would instead consider buying Musk’s platform, X, for a significantly lower amount.

Musk’s latest move follows his ongoing legal battles with OpenAI. In 2024, he sued the company twice, alleging that it had strayed from its founding principles by prioritizing commercial growth over public benefit. He raised concerns about corporate influence overshadowing OpenAI’s original mission of advancing AI for the greater good.

This clash underscores the growing divide between Musk’s vision for AI as an open, nonprofit initiative and OpenAI’s pursuit of financial expansion in the competitive tech industry.