Once collaborators in the quest for artificial general intelligence, Elon Musk and Sam Altman now find themselves as rivals in the competitive AI industry. Their diverging paths highlight contrasting visions for the future of AI and underscore the dynamic nature of technological leadership.​

In 2015, Musk and Altman co-founded OpenAI, a nonprofit research lab dedicated to the development of artificial general intelligence. However, by 2019, differing perspectives led to Musk's departure after a proposal to assume control of OpenAI was declined by Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman. This split prompted Musk to establish xAI, a direct competitor in the AI sector.​

The rivalry intensified recently when Musk made an unsolicited offer to acquire OpenAI for $97 billion, a figure significantly below the company's estimated valuation of $300 billion. This move is perceived as an attempt to challenge Altman's leadership or to influence OpenAI's market valuation.​

OpenAI's success has been bolstered by substantial investments from Microsoft, enhancing its position in the AI landscape. Concurrently, emerging competitors like DeepSeek are contributing to the escalating competition within the industry. The public nature of Musk and Altman's dispute, often manifested through social media exchanges, exemplifies the high-stakes environment of Silicon Valley's tech sector.​

Source:

https://www.wired.com/story/uncanny-valley-podcast-15-sam-altman-elon-musk