Elon Musk is once again making waves in the AI world, this time with a massive $97.4 billion offer to buy OpenAI’s non-profit division. But here’s the twist—he says he’ll drop the offer if OpenAI agrees to stay non-profit and abandon its move towards becoming a for-profit company.
Musk’s Stand: AI Should Be for Humanity, Not Just for Profit
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 along with Sam Altman, has always pushed for AI to be used for the good of humanity rather than as a business tool to generate profits. Now, he’s concerned that OpenAI is drifting away from its original purpose.
His legal team recently made an offer—if OpenAI promises to remain non-profit, Musk will withdraw his bid. He also believes that if OpenAI does go ahead with its for-profit model, then the non-profit side should be fairly paid for all its assets.
For Musk, this isn’t just about buying a company—it’s about keeping AI ethical and ensuring it doesn’t fall completely into corporate hands.
Sam Altman Responds: “This Is Just a Distraction”
OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman is not convinced. He has dismissed Musk’s offer, calling it a strategy to cause trouble rather than a real attempt to help the company.
Altman and OpenAI’s board believe that going for-profit is necessary—they say the company needs massive funding to continue developing powerful AI and compete with tech giants like Google and Microsoft.
According to OpenAI, their current structure still prioritizes ethical AI but also allows them to attract big investors. They argue that staying completely non-profit would slow down AI progress because research, computing power, and hiring top talent all cost billions of dollars.
Why This Fight Matters
This battle between Musk and OpenAI isn’t just about money—it’s about who gets to decide how AI is used and developed in the future.
Musk has always warned that corporations shouldn’t have too much power over AI, and this is his way of trying to stop that from happening.
On the other hand, OpenAI believes that without major investments, they can’t keep up with the rapid pace of AI innovation. They insist that their profit-driven model still protects their mission while allowing them to grow.
What’s Next? The AI Showdown Continues
For now, OpenAI has rejected Musk’s offer, but that doesn’t mean the debate is over. Will Musk step away, or will he push harder to influence AI’s future?
This isn’t just a business deal—it’s a major turning point in how AI will be controlled and used in the years to come. Will AI serve humanity first, or will profit-driven companies take over?
One thing’s for sure—this is just the beginning of a much bigger fight over the future of artificial intelligence.
