Musk’s $97B OpenAI Buyout Rejected

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

1. Elon Musk offered to buy OpenAI for $97 billion.
2. Sam Altman rejected Musk’s buyout proposal.
3. Altman jokingly offered to buy X from Musk for $9 billion.
4. Musk previously sued OpenAI.
5. Musk is unhappy with OpenAI’s profit-driven shift.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Elon Musk offered OpenAI CEO Sam Altman $97 billion to buy the company, which Altman rejected. Musk, who previously sued OpenAI, has now made an attempt to purchase the company. Recent reports reveal that Musk, along with a group of investors, approached CEO Sam Altman with an offer to buy out OpenAI for $97 billion. However, Altman declined the offer, responding with a firm, “no thank you.” This development has sent ripples through the tech world.

Musk’s Proposal

According to the Wall Street Journal report, Musk and his investment group have officially proposed to OpenAI’s board to take control of the company and return it to its nonprofit origins. Musk’s lawyer, Marc Toberoff, stated, “If Sam Altman and the current board want OpenAI to become a fully for-profit company, it’s important that the charity is fairly compensated for losing control of such groundbreaking technology.”

Altman’s Response

In response, Altman rejected the offer in a post on Musk’s social media platform, X, saying, “No thanks, but we’d be willing to buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you’re interested.” This was a playful reference to Musk’s $44 billion purchase of Twitter, now X, in 2022. The acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk was a highly publicized event, making Altman’s response all the more pointed.

Lawsuit Background

Musk proposed this offer after suing OpenAI two times in 2024. The first time, in July 2024, he accused the company of acting in a way that diverged from its founding principles, particularly its shift toward a more commercialised, profit-driven structure. Musk felt this shift put OpenAI’s work at risk of being controlled by corporate interests rather than focusing on the broader benefits for humanity.

Musk’s Concerns

Musk has accused OpenAI of prioritizing profits. In August 2024, Musk again filed a new lawsuit and accused OpenAI of racing to develop powerful “artificial general intelligence” technology to “maximize profits.” Musk also accused the company of engaging in racketeering. Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI stems from a growing conflict between him and the company he helped found.

OpenAI’s History

Musk was one of the initial backers of OpenAI, a nonprofit organization focused on artificial intelligence. However, over time, he became increasingly unhappy with the direction the company was taking, especially after it shifted to a “capped-profit” model, which he felt compromised its original mission. Musk has also expressed concerns about OpenAI’s leadership and its potential influence over AI technology. This tension highlights the different visions for the future of AI between Musk and OpenAI.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

• Elon Musk offered $97 billion to buy OpenAI.
• Sam Altman rejected Musk’s buyout proposal.
• Musk previously sued OpenAI.
• Musk is unhappy with OpenAI’s profit-driven focus.
• Altman jokingly offered to buy X from Musk.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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