Elon Musk and Sam Altman founded OpenAI together, but now they're publicly trading barbs. Here's the history of their relationship and feuds.

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Sarah Jackson,Grace KayMar 30, 2023, 16:00 IST
Elon Musk and Sam Altman founded OpenAI together, but now they're publicly trading barbs. Here's the history of their relationship and feuds.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have a long history.Getty

  • Elon Musk helped found OpenAI, but he has spoken out against the company in recent years.
  • Earlier this month, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called some of the billionaire's assertions "not true."
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Musk and Altman cofounded OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in 2015, alongside other Silicon Valley figures, including Peter Thiel, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, and Y Combinator cofounder Jessica Livingston.

Musk and Altman cofounded OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, in 2015, alongside other Silicon Valley figures, including Peter Thiel, LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman, and Y Combinator cofounder Jessica Livingston.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk have a long history.Getty

The group aimed to create a nonprofit focused on developing artificial intelligence "in the way that is most likely to benefit humanity as a whole," according to a statement on OpenAI's website from December 11, 2015.

Source: Insider

At the time, Musk said that AI was the "biggest existential threat" to humanity.

At the time, Musk said that AI was the "biggest existential threat" to humanity.
Carina Johansen/Getty Images

"It's hard to fathom how much human-level AI could benefit society, and it's equally hard to imagine how much it could damage society if built or used incorrectly," a statement announcing the founding of Open AI reads.

Source: BBC, OpenAI

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Musk stepped down from OpenAI's board of directors in 2018.

Musk stepped down from OpenAI's board of directors in 2018.
Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

"As Tesla continues to become more focused on AI, this will eliminate a potential future conflict for Elon," OpenAI said in a blog post at the time, adding that Musk would continue to provide guidance and donations.

Source: Insider

Earlier this month, it was reported that Sam Altman and other OpenAI cofounders had rejected Musk's proposal to run the company in 2018.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Sam Altman and other OpenAI cofounders had rejected Musk's proposal to run the company in 2018.
JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images

Semafor reported that Musk wanted to run the company on his own in an attempt to beat Google. But when his offer to run the company was rejected, he pulled his funding and left OpenAI's board, the news outlet reported.

Source: Semafor, Insider

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In 2019, Musk shared some insight on his decision to leave, saying one of the reasons was that he "didn't agree" with where OpenAI was headed.

In 2019, Musk shared some insight on his decision to leave, saying one of the reasons was that he "didn't agree" with where OpenAI was headed.
Elon Musk.Susan Walsh/AP

"I had to focus on solving a painfully large number of engineering & manufacturing problems at Tesla (especially) & SpaceX," he tweeted. "Also, Tesla was competing for some of same people as OpenAI & I didn't agree with some of what OpenAI team wanted to do. Add that all up & it was just better to part ways on good terms."

Source: Insider

Musk has taken shots at OpenAI on several occasions since leaving.

Musk has taken shots at OpenAI on several occasions since leaving.
Frederic Brown/Getty Images

Two years after his departure, Musk said, "OpenAI should be more open" in response to an MIT Technology Review article reporting that there was a culture of secrecy there, despite OpenAI frequently proclaiming a commitment to transparency.

Musk also added that his "confidence in Dario for safety is not high," referring to Dario Amodei, who led OpenAI's strategy at the time.

Source: Insider

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In December 2022, days after OpenAI released ChatGPT, Musk said the company had prior access to the database of Twitter — now owned by Musk — to train the AI chatbot and that he was putting that on hold.

In December 2022, days after OpenAI released ChatGPT, Musk said the company had prior access to the database of Twitter — now owned by Musk — to train the AI chatbot and that he was putting that on hold.
Getty Images

"Need to understand more about governance structure & revenue plans going forward. OpenAI was started as open-source & non-profit. Neither are still true," he said.

Source: Twitter

Musk was reportedly furious about ChatGPT's success, Semafor reported earlier this month.

Musk was reportedly furious about ChatGPT's success, Semafor reported earlier this month.
Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla Motors, speaks at the 2015 Automotive News World Congress January 13, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. More than 5,000 journalists from around the world will see approximately 45 new vehicles unveiled during the 2015 NAIAS, which opens to the public January 17 and concludes January 25.Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

In November, the chatbot took off and garnered millions of users for its ability to do everything from write essays to craft basic code.

Source: Semafor, Insider

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Last month, Musk doubled down, saying OpenAI as it exists today is "not what I intended at all."

Last month, Musk doubled down, saying OpenAI as it exists today is "not what I intended at all."
Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

"OpenAI was created as an open source (which is why I named it "Open" AI), non-profit company to serve as a counterweight to Google, but now it has become a closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft. Not what I intended at all," he said in a tweet.

Source: Twitter

Musk repeated this assertion earlier this month.

Musk repeated this assertion earlier this month.
NurPhotos/Getty Images

"I'm still confused as to how a non-profit to which I donated ~$100M somehow became a $30B market cap for-profit. If this is legal, why doesn't everyone do it?" he tweeted.

Source: Twitter

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On Monday, the Tesla CEO took a dig at Microsoft founder Bill Gates, calling his understanding of AI "limited."

On Monday, the Tesla CEO took a dig at Microsoft founder Bill Gates, calling his understanding of AI "limited."
AP/Jae C. Hong/Yana Paskova/Getty/Business Insider composite

Musk made the comment after Gates published a 7-page blog about his experience with OpenAI and how the technology could transform the workforce, healthcare and education.

The Microsoft founder said he has been meeting with OpenAI since 2016 and chatted with the company as recently as September. It is unclear whether that 2022 meeting was in his capacity as a part-time advisor to Microsoft. (Gates left Microsoft's board in 2020 after stepping down as CEO in 2000.)

Sources: Insider, Insider

Altman recently addressed some of Musk's gripes about OpenAI.

Altman recently addressed some of Musk's gripes about OpenAI.
Brian Ach/Getty Images for TechCrunch

"To say a positive thing about Elon, I think he really does care about a good future with AGI," Altman said on a recent episode of the "On With Kara Swisher" podcast, referring to artificial general intelligence.

"I mean, he's a jerk, whatever else you want to say about him — he has a style that is not a style that I'd want to have for myself," Altman told Swisher. "But I think he does really care, and he is feeling very stressed about what the future's going to look like for humanity."

In response to Musk's claim that OpenAI has turned into "a closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft," Altman said on the podcast, "Most of that is not true, and I think Elon knows that."

Source: "On With Kara Swisher", Insider

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Altman also referred to Musk as one of his heroes despite the fact Musk is "obviously attacking" OpenAI on Twitter.

Altman also referred to Musk as one of his heroes despite the fact Musk is "obviously attacking" OpenAI on Twitter.
Drew Angerer/Getty

On a recent episode of Lex Fridman's podcast, Altman said, "Elon is obviously attacking us some on Twitter right now on a few different vectors."

Nonetheless, he called Musk one of his heroes, adding, "I believe he is, understandably so, really stressed about AGI safety."

Source: Lex Fridman Podcast, Insider

Most recently, Musk was one of more than 1,000 people who signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on training advanced AI systems.

Most recently, Musk was one of more than 1,000 people who signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause on training advanced AI systems.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The letter, which also received signatures from several AI experts, cites concerns of AI's potential risks to humanity.

"Powerful AI systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable," the letter says.

Source: Future of Life Institute, Insider

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