Basri Caneri 
Elon Musk and a group of investors have made an offer to buy artificial intelligence giant OpenAI for $97.4 billion. Musk’s lawyer Mac Toberoff confirmed that they have submitted a formal offer to the company’s board, arguing that OpenAI should continue as a non-profit organization.
Musk states that OpenAI has shifted to a profit-oriented model by partnering with large companies like Microsoft, which betrays the company’s founding mission.
Altman’s Sharp Response to Musk
Following the announcement of the offer, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman responded sarcastically to Musk. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Altman said, “Thanks, but we can buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
In an interview with Sky News, Altman echoed these remarks, stating that OpenAI is not for sale and joked, “But we’d love to buy Twitter.”
OpenAI’s Transition to a Profit Model Creates Controversy
Allegations that OpenAI would become a fully for-profit organization have sparked great debate both in the industry and among investors.
- In 2023, OpenAI underwent a restructuring process and began to run for-profit and non-profit divisions together.
- Altman and the OpenAI team argue that their AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) development goals continue, but they need investor support for financial sustainability.
On the other hand, Musk and some investors argue that OpenAI’s transformation into a purely profit-oriented company threatens the independent development of AI.
The Conflict Between Musk and OpenAI Deepens
The tension between Elon Musk and Sam Altman is not new.
- Although Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015, he left the board in 2018, arguing that the company’s vision had changed.
- In 2024, Musk sued OpenAI twice, claiming that the company had deviated from its ethical values in favor of profit.
Musk aims to rival OpenAI by starting his own AI company called XAI. At the same time, he argues that tech giants like Meta and Google should pay more attention to ethics and security issues in AI development.
What will OpenAI do in the future?
While OpenAI plans to continue its work with a new corporate structure, it does not look favorably on Musk’s offer.
While Altman states that OpenAI is not open for sale and will maintain its independent structure, he thinks that Musk is trying to prevent competition in the field of artificial intelligence in different ways.
In the coming period, will Musk make a new offer, will OpenAI’s financial and strategic direction change? The answers to these questions could shape the future of the AI world.
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