Elon Musk's surprise bid for OpenAI reignites tech rivalry

Elon Musk's $97.4 billion out-of-the-blue offer to buy OpenAI (and its quick rejection) is the latest flex in his long-running battle over the future of the pivotal tech company he co-founded, and its CEO, Sam Altman.

War of words: Altman was quick to rebut the offer on X, later describing it as a tactic by Musk to disrupt OpenAI's progress, and saying no formal takeover offer had been received. Musk hit back, saying in a media statement circulated by his lawyer: "It’s time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was. We will make sure that happens."

A decade in the making: Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. He departed from the company in 2018 due to disagreements over its direction.

Legal maneuverings: In February 2024, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, Altman, and company President Greg Brockman, alleging that they had shifted the organization's focus from its original nonprofit mission to prioritizing profits, thereby violating the founding agreement.

• Musk's lawsuit claimed that OpenAI's transition to a for-profit model, particularly through its partnership with Microsoft, contradicted its initial commitment to open-source and safety-focused AI development.

• He argued that this shift not only breached the organization's foundational principles, but also posed risks associated with the commercialization of advanced AI technologies.

• In June 2024, Musk withdrew the lawsuit without providing a public explanation. However, in August 2024, he reinstated the legal action, reiterating his concerns about OpenAI's direction and its collaborations with corporate entities like Microsoft.

More to come: All indications suggest more salvos will be fired in the ongoing battle between Musk and OpenAI's current leadership over the organization's mission and the ethical considerations surrounding AI development.