In a photograph captured by Steve Granitz and Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Getty Images, Elon Musk is depicted on the left with Sam Altman on the right. The dynamic between these two prominent figures has recently been thrust into the spotlight once again, as Altman has not shied away from airing his grievances against Musk. As the CEO of OpenAI, Altman has unabashedly labeled Musk as a “bully” with a penchant for engaging in conflicts with his counterparts, as revealed in an interview with The Free Press.
The ongoing legal saga between Musk, Altman, and OpenAI has only added fuel to the fire, with Musk resubmitting a lawsuit earlier this year in a bid to settle the disputes at hand. What makes this situation all the more intriguing is the history that Altman and Musk share – as former co-founders of OpenAI. However, the once seemingly harmonious partnership has since devolved into a complex web of animosity and legal wrangling.
During his interview with The Free Press, Altman did not mince words when describing his former collaborator, Musk. He pointedly referred to Musk as a “bully,” shedding light on the high-profile clash between Musk and OpenAI that has taken center stage. Since his departure from OpenAI in 2018, Musk has not held back in his criticisms of the AI startup and its CEO, Altman. The refiled lawsuit in August by Musk alleged that he was misled into joining the company by Altman and another co-founder, Greg Brockman.
The legal battle has escalated further with Musk seeking to prevent OpenAI from transforming into a for-profit entity, a move countered by OpenAI’s release of emails that purportedly show Musk advocating for the startup to transition into a for-profit venture during his tenure there. Altman’s characterization of Musk as a “legendary entrepreneur” juxtaposed with the portrayal of him as a “bully” paints a complex picture of their tumultuous relationship.
Altman also delved into the underlying tensions between Musk and OpenAI, attributing much of Musk’s aggression to the success that OpenAI has achieved in recent times. Musk’s establishment of xAI, his own AI startup, and subsequent developments such as the release of the chatbot Grok have further exacerbated the rift between him and his former colleagues at OpenAI.
Reflecting on Musk’s departure from OpenAI, Altman suggested that Musk’s dissatisfaction stemmed from the trajectory he perceived the company to be on and the lack of total control he sought over its operations. Despite the acrimonious nature of their interactions, Altman expressed a belief that Musk would have approved of the direction OpenAI has taken had he still been at the helm.
As Musk gears up to assume a more prominent role in the upcoming political landscape, Altman weighed in on the potential implications of this shift. While acknowledging Musk’s influence, Altman maintained that he did not anticipate Musk leveraging his newfound political power.
