Elon Musk and a group of investors have made a $97.4 billion offer to take control of OpenAI. This move comes after Musk previously sued the AI company, arguing that it had moved away from its original mission.
Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018. He has criticized the company’s shift toward making profits, saying it no longer focuses on open-source AI development. In a statement, he said OpenAI should return to being a “safety-focused force for good.”
Musk’s AI company, xAI, is leading the bid, along with other investors, including Joe Lonsdale’s investment firm and Ari Emanuel’s fund.
If successful, the deal could lead to a merger between OpenAI and xAI. However, the offer only targets OpenAI’s non-profit arm, not the entire business.
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, rejected Musk’s offer with a sarcastic response on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
Musk and Altman have clashed before. Musk sued OpenAI last year over its restructuring plans but later dropped and refiled the case.
OpenAI says its restructuring is necessary to stay competitive in the fast-growing AI industry. The company believes that keeping its current non-profit model would limit its ability to raise funds. OpenAI plans to complete the restructuring by 2026.
Musk’s investor group has said they are willing to increase their offer if other bids come in. It remains to be seen whether OpenAI will change its stance or if Musk will find another way to influence the company’s future.
