Elon Musk is no stranger to making headlines, and his latest move is no exception.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has reportedly put forward a staggering $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.

This ambitious bid signals another chapter in Musk’s ongoing rivalry with OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman.

A Social Media Showdown

Sam Altman wasted no time in dismissing Musk’s proposal.

In a cheeky social media post, he jokingly countered with an offer to buy X (formerly Twitter) for just $9.74 billion—an obvious jab at the fact that Musk purchased the platform for a hefty $44 billion in 2022. Musk’s response? A single-word reply: “Swindler.”

Legal Battles and a Long-Standing Feud

The tension between Musk and OpenAI has been brewing for years.

Musk was one of OpenAI’s co-founders back in 2015, but he parted ways with the company in 2018.

Since then, OpenAI has grown into one of the world’s most prominent AI firms, while Musk has been critical of its direction.

In 2023, he launched xAI, a direct competitor in the artificial intelligence space.

Adding fuel to the fire, Musk has filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, challenging its transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure.

OpenAI, in response, has defended its evolution, explaining that the shift to a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation was necessary to balance the interests of investors, employees, and the general public.

AI Investments and Trump’s Influence

Musk’s bid comes at a time when AI investments are reaching unprecedented levels.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced a massive AI infrastructure investment, known as Stargate, which aims to pour at least $500 billion into the sector.

The initiative involves major players like OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle.

Despite Musk’s strong ties to Trump—especially after his $270 million contribution to the Republican campaign—he has been skeptical of the Stargate initiative, claiming that the promised funds may not actually materialize.

This rare instance of disagreement between Musk and Trump adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing AI power struggle.

Can Musk Really Take Over OpenAI?

While Musk’s offer is undeniably bold, it’s unlikely that OpenAI’s board will hand over control.

The company has made it clear that its current structure is designed to prevent any single investor from gaining too much influence.

Given Musk’s history with OpenAI and his vocal criticism of its leadership, it’s doubtful that Altman and his team would entertain his bid seriously.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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