At the recent Artificial Intelligence Action Summit held in Paris, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman strongly responded to Elon Musk's acquisition proposal. Reports indicate that Musk's consortium plans to acquire a controlling stake in OpenAI for $97.4 billion. Altman opposed this move, pointing out that it is the latest in a series of strategies by Musk. He believes Musk's intention may be to slow down OpenAI's development.
In an interview, Altman candidly stated that OpenAI is not a company for sale. He further criticized Musk's strategy, emphasizing that he hopes Musk can prove himself through competition and product innovation rather than resorting to other means. He mentioned that Musk's recently launched generative AI chatbot Grok is similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, indicating his ongoing interest and competitive intent in this field.
When asked whether Musk's actions stem from insecurity, Altman replied, "He may have lived his whole life in a state of insecurity. I feel sorry for him. I don't think he is a happy person." This comment not only reflects Altman's view of Musk but also hints at the complex historical relationship between the two. In fact, Altman and Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk chose to leave in 2019, while Altman shifted the company towards a profit model.
Furthermore, Musk's proposal to acquire OpenAI could challenge Altman's future plans, especially regarding his transition to a profit model and the push for the $500 billion "Gateway to the Stars" project, which aims to establish AI infrastructure to drive industry growth.
Regarding Musk's influence in U.S. politics, particularly during the Trump administration, Altman stated that he is not worried but acknowledged that it is a point worth noting. This competition in artificial intelligence clearly extends beyond the battle of technology and products, involving a deeper game of corporate culture and market strategy.
