Archive — US — techcrunch
Elon Musk-led team submits $97.4B bid for OpenAI
Elon Musk and a group of investors have made a $97.6 billion bid to purchase OpenAI, aiming to refocus the organization on its original open-source mission. This move escalates Musk's ongoing conflict with co-founder Sam Altman amid legal disputes regarding OpenAI’s nonprofit status.
Key points
- Musk's team submitted a $97.6 billion bid for OpenAI.
- The bid was confirmed by Musk's lawyer, Marc Toberoff.
- This bid escalates Musk's conflict with OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman.
- Musk is currently in a legal dispute over OpenAI's transition away from nonprofit status.
- The acquisition aims to shift OpenAI back to its open-source roots.
- Musk stated that they will ensure OpenAI remains safety-focused and beneficial.
- Musk's AI firm, xAI, is reportedly involved in the bid, suggesting potential merging.
- Altman sarcastically responded to the bid on social media, referencing Musk's Twitter purchase.
Why it matters
- The current trend toward open-source technologies in AI reflects a broader desire for transparency and democratization in tech.
- Musk’s actions parallel historical corporate takeovers in tech, showing the ongoing battle for influence in AI and tech policy.
- This event highlights the tension between proprietary technology and the open-source movement, a key theme in the 2025 IT landscape.
Musk's $97.6 billion bid for OpenAI underscores his ambition to reclaim control and shift the company back to its foundational values, reflecting ongoing debates over AI's future development.