Elon Musk bids $97.4 billion for OpenAI, Altman responds with Twitter offer

The proposition was formally offered to the board of directors of OpenAI upon ongoing discussions about the structure and governance of the company's operations.

In response, Altman, who has long focused on converting OpenAI into a for-profit company, dismissed the bid with a public statement on X (formerly Twitter), countering with an offer of his own.

“No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” Altman posted.

Musk expressed his thoughts about the counter-offer shortly, stating, “Swindler.”

The billionaire's proposal might complicate the company's ongoing efforts to restructure its governance. On December 27, the company, globally known for operating ChatGPT, announced its intention to uphold both a non-profit and a for-profit entity, ensuring financial sustainability for the former.

Furthermore, according to the statement, OpenAI's board is contemplating structural changes aimed at improving AI capabilities and assessing its corporate framework.

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, departed from the organization in 2019 and later launched his own AI enterprise, xAI. He has been involved in several legal disputes with OpenAI, starting with a lawsuit concerning its restructuring plans, which he later withdrew, only to refile it the following year.

Unlike the battles between Musk and Altman, Microsoft and G42 have collaborated to launch the Responsible AI Foundation. As reported earlier, the initiative aims to establish new standards in the Middle East and the Global South.