In a dramatic twist in the tech world, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has turned down a staggering $97.4 billion acquisition offer from Elon Musk and a group of investors. According to a Reuters report, Musk—alongside xAI, Baron Capital, Vy Capital, and 8VC—made the massive bid on February 10, hoping to take control of OpenAI, the company behind the groundbreaking AI chatbot, ChatGPT.
However, Altman wasted no time shutting down the offer. Responding to Musk on X (formerly Twitter), he fired back with a bold counterproposal:
“No thank you, but we’ll buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you’re interested.”
Musk vs. Altman: The Tech Power Struggle Continues
This latest exchange is just another chapter in the ongoing rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but later distanced himself from the company, has been highly critical of OpenAI’s direction under Altman’s leadership. He has repeatedly accused the organization of moving away from its original nonprofit mission and becoming too profit-driven after its partnership with Microsoft.
On the other hand, Altman has dismissed Musk’s criticism, emphasizing that OpenAI’s mission remains to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity. By rejecting Musk’s offer, Altman has sent a clear message—OpenAI is not for sale, no matter how big the price tag.
A $9.74 Billion Offer for Twitter?
Altman’s response wasn’t just a rejection—it was a calculated counterstrike. The $9.74 billion bid for Twitter (now X) is a clear jab at Musk, who famously acquired the platform in 2022 for $44 billion. Since then, Musk has rebranded Twitter as X, made sweeping changes, and faced intense scrutiny over the platform’s declining value and controversial policies.
While it’s highly unlikely that Musk would consider selling X to OpenAI at a fraction of its original cost, Altman’s remark has sparked widespread debate in the tech community. Some see it as a clever power move, while others view it as a humorous public taunt.
What’s Next?
With Altman rejecting Musk’s multi-billion-dollar bid, the future remains uncertain for OpenAI and the broader AI industry. Will Musk continue his aggressive push to challenge OpenAI with his own AI startup, xAI? Will Altman leverage OpenAI’s growing dominance in the AI space to cement its status as the undisputed leader in artificial intelligence?
One thing is certain—this tech rivalry is far from over, and the world will be watching as these two Silicon Valley titans continue their battle for AI supremacy.
