In a decisive move, OpenAI’s board of directors has unanimously rejected a $97.4 billion acquisition offer from a consortium led by Elon Musk. The board emphasized that OpenAI is not for sale and reaffirmed its commitment to its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity.
Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, departed from the organization in 2018 due to disagreements over its direction. In recent years, he has been vocal about his concerns that OpenAI has strayed from its original non-profit mission, particularly criticizing its transition toward a for-profit model and its partnership with Microsoft.
The rejected bid is part of Musk’s broader efforts to prevent OpenAI from becoming a for-profit entity. In response to the board’s decision, Musk’s legal representative argued that OpenAI’s current trajectory prioritizes enriching certain board members over adhering to its charitable intentions.
OpenAI’s leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, has consistently dismissed Musk’s assertions. Altman has characterized Musk’s actions as attempts to disrupt OpenAI’s progress, suggesting that Musk’s interventions are competitive tactics rather than genuine concerns about the organization’s mission.
This development underscores the ongoing tension between Musk and OpenAI’s current leadership, highlighting differing visions for the future of artificial intelligence and its governance.
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