OpenAI Rejects $97 Billion Bid From Elon Musk's Consortium

OpenAI's board of directors firmly rejected a $97.4 billion bid from Elon Musk and a group of investors seeking to take control of the artificial intelligence company. This decision intensifies the ongoing conflict between Mr. Musk and OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman.

Bret Taylor, chairman of the OpenAI board, issued a statement emphasizing that "OpenAI is not for sale." He added, “The board has unanimously rejected Mr. Musk’s latest attempt to disrupt his competition.” OpenAI also formally conveyed their stance in a letter to Mr. Musk's lawyer, Marc Toberoff, asserting that the bid "is not in the best interests of OAI’s mission."

Musk's Offer and its Implications

Mr. Musk and Mr. Toberoff haven't yet responded to requests for comment. The rejection comes after Mr. Musk and other investors made a $97.4 billion offer on Monday for the assets of the nonprofit that governs OpenAI. This bid directly challenges Mr. Altman's plan to restructure OpenAI by transferring control from the nonprofit to its investors, which include tech giant Microsoft.

This clash highlights the growing tensions surrounding the future direction of artificial intelligence and the influence of powerful figures like Elon Musk in shaping its development.