Elon Musk, one of the co-founders of OpenAI, has recently made a significant move to regain control of the artificial intelligence company. He, along with a group of investors, has offered approximately $97.4 billion to acquire the nonprofit organization that oversees OpenAI. This proposal has fueled an ongoing dispute between Musk and OpenAI’s current leadership, particularly CEO Sam Altman (Reuters, 2025).
Musk's bid is reportedly driven by his concerns over OpenAI’s shift towards a for-profit model. He believes that the organization should remain a nonprofit entity to ensure its mission aligns with the broader interests of humanity rather than commercial objectives (Reuters, 2025). However, Altman has rejected the offer, even countering with a surprising proposal to purchase Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), for $9.74 billion (Wall Street Journal, 2025). This unexpected response has added complexity to an already intense corporate standoff.
The situation has also sparked concerns among Tesla investors. Some worry that Musk's involvement in another high-profile acquisition could divert his attention from Tesla’s challenges, such as increased competition in the electric vehicle market and declining sales in Europe (Investors.com, 2025). Given Tesla’s recent struggles, shareholders are cautious about Musk’s focus shifting away from the company’s core operations.
While the outcome of Musk’s acquisition attempt remains uncertain, the situation highlights broader concerns about the future of artificial intelligence governance and corporate leadership in the AI space. As the negotiations unfold, the industry will closely watch how this power struggle shapes the trajectory of OpenAI and its role in the evolving AI landscape.