Elon Musk wants to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion

Elon Musk's $97.4B bid for OpenAI is rejected by Sam Altman.

: Elon Musk made a $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI through his xAI investment group. Despite the unsolicited nature of the bid, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman declined it, humorously suggesting buying Twitter for $9.74 billion instead. Musk aims to restore OpenAI's open-source roots, while legal complexities due to OpenAI's nonprofit status add challenges.

Elon Musk has spearheaded a $97.4 billion proposal to attain OpenAI, leveraging a coalition of investors from his xAI group. The offer, presented to OpenAI's board without prior solicitation, seeks control over the nonprofit, which oversees a for-profit subsidiary.

Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, courteously refused Musk's offer and playfully suggested acquiring Twitter instead for $9.74 billion, a nod to Musk's ownership of the platform. Musk's response was less jocular, as he publicly criticized Altman by calling him derogatory names.

Musk's stated objective is to return OpenAI to its foundational mission emphasizing open-source and safety-driven principles. However, OpenAI's nonprofit structure complicates the acquisition process, as it may shield the organization from being legally obliged to accept Musk's bid, unlike a traditional for-profit entity.