During an interview with podcaster Lex Fridman, OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, revealed that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, had doubts about the future success of the ChatGPT-maker company and eventually chose to part ways.
Altman disclosed that Musk had concerns about OpenAI’s viability and desired more control over its direction. While OpenAI aimed to continue its trajectory, Musk reportedly sought greater influence, even proposing the idea of merging the company with Tesla to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI) efforts.
“Despite Musk’s interest in reshaping OpenAI into a for-profit venture under his control, we remained committed to our original mission,” Altman emphasized. He highlighted the company’s dedication to democratizing powerful technology by offering it free of charge, refraining from monetization through ads or other means.
However, tensions escalated when Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman, alleging breaches of their initial contractual agreements regarding AI. OpenAI countered Musk’s claims, asserting that while discussions about adopting a for-profit structure occurred, Musk’s insistence on either merging with Tesla or obtaining full control conflicted with the company’s objectives.
Amidst legal disputes, OpenAI remains steadfast in its mission to provide accessible and impactful technology to the public, reaffirming its commitment to advancing societal benefit through innovation.