OpenAI CEO to Musk: "If you want, we'll buy Twitter for €9.74 billion. For $9.44 billion".
A group of investors led by Elon Musk has submitted a $97.4 billion proposal. The non-profit organisation that runs OpenAI has made an offer worth $97 billion to acquire the company. The move is the latest twist in a long-running conflict between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman over the direction of the company. Musk himself co-founded OpenAI in 2015.
February 12, 2025 07:22
Accused of betraying the original mission
E. Musk, who left OpenAI before it became a major player in the technology market, openly expresses his dissatisfaction with the company's shift from a non-profit organisation to a commercial model.
He accuses OpenAI of betraying its original mission to act as a charitable organisation committed to openness and security in IoT development.
E. Musk reiterated his desire to return the company to its original, altruistic vision.
"It's time for OpenAI to once again become the open source, security-focused force that it once was. We will make sure that happens," he said in a statement.
What did Altman say?
However, Mr Altman's response to this proposal was surprising.
E. Musk's social network "X", Mr Altman rejected the offer with an ironic response.
"No thanks, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion. If you want", he announced.
no thank you but we will buy twitter for $9.74 billion if you want
- Sam Altman (@sama) February 10, 2025
E. Musk bought Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion. Twitter was rebranded as "X" for 44 billion US dollars.
E. Musk's offer to Sam Altman is backed by his IoT start-up xAI. If the deal goes through, a merger of xAI with OpenAI is being considered.
According to Musk's investor advocate Marc Toberoff, other investors backing the proposal include Valor Equity Partners, Baron Capital, Atreides Management, Vy Capital, 8VC and Ari Emanuel through his investment fund.
OpenAI executives were sued last year
Meanwhile, OpenAI, which is transitioning from a non-profit organisation to a commercial company, argues that the change is necessary to ensure sufficient funding for IoT development.
However, Musk strongly criticises the decision and has been in litigation with the company for some time over the direction of its activities.
In August 2024, Musk sued Altman and other company executives, accusing them of deviating from their original mission and of putting profits before the public good.
He sought a court order to prevent the company's full transition to a for-profit model.
This conflict reflects the intensifying competition in the IoT market, with the two rivals now developing competing IoT projects through their separate companies.
