A team of investors headed by Elon Musk has made an unsolicited offer to buy the nonprofit that runs OpenAI for $97.4 billion. The bid was submitted to OpenAI’s board on Monday, February 10, 2025, according to Musk’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff.
Musk has long argued that OpenAI should focus on open-source development and AI safety. He believes that these principles are key to ensuring that artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. In his view, OpenAI has strayed from its original mission by shifting from a nonprofit model to a for-profit structure. This change came after major investments from companies like Microsoft, a move that Musk sees as making the organization too commercially driven.
In response to the bid, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, posted on X, suggesting that instead of selling the company, OpenAI might instead purchase Twitter for $9.74 billion. This response highlights a clear difference in vision between Musk and Altman.
Musk’s bid is driven by several key ideas:
- Returning to Open-Source and AI Safety: Musk wants OpenAI to go back to its roots by making its research open to everyone and ensuring that AI development is safe.
- Concerns Over the For-Profit Shift: He worries that the move to a for-profit model, especially after investments from large companies like Microsoft, has made OpenAI focus more on profit than on the public good.
- Ensuring AI Is a Force for Good: Musk aims to make sure that AI continues to benefit society.
- Disagreement with the Current Direction: He does not agree with the current strategy of OpenAI, which led him to leave the organization.
- Control Over Transformative Technology: Musk believes that if OpenAI becomes fully for-profit, the nonprofit should be compensated for giving up control over such important technology.
The conflict between Elon Musk and Sam Altman centers on their different visions for the future of OpenAI. Musk thinks that AI should be developed in a way that keeps the research open and free from the influence of big companies. He even considers linking AI development with his other businesses, like Tesla and xAI, to help move the industry forward. On the other hand, Altman argues that reaching big goals in AI requires a lot of money. He sees partnerships with large corporations as necessary for funding and scaling the technology, even if that means moving away from open-source practices.
This situation marks a turning point for OpenAI. Finance enthusiasts and those interested in technology will be watching closely to see how this bid and the differing visions for the company might shape the future of artificial intelligence. The debate over the balance between open-source ideals and the need for significant investment is likely to continue as both sides make their cases.
