Elon Musk, known for his outspoken opinions and high-profile feuds, has taken fresh aim at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a heated online exchange.
The tension reignited over Altman’s past comments praising Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn cofounder, for his efforts to oppose Donald Trump during the 2020 US presidential race.
Hoffman, who departed OpenAI’s board in 2023, played a pivotal role in backing progressive causes, prompting Musk to criticise Altman for aligning with “far-left-wing media.”
This comes at a time when Donald Trump has unveiled an ambitious $500 billion project called “The Stargate Project.”
The initiative aims to establish state-of-the-art AI infrastructure across the US, with backing from tech giants including OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank.
Musk has cast doubt on the feasibility of the project, citing concerns over inadequate funding.
Musk and Altman’s feud escalates over political ties
Back in 2020, Altman had described Hoffman’s efforts as instrumental, stating that “Trump would still be in office” without his support.
Musk indirectly criticised Altman’s stance by resharing posts calling out Altman for his political alignments and alleged bias in favour of “left-wing media”.
He also shared a screenshot of an old tweet from Altman praising Hoffman’s efforts back in 2021.
However, the CEO of OpenAI expressed a shift in his perspective toward Donald Trump on Thursday, stating that he now believes Trump could be beneficial for the country.
In a post on X, Altman admitted that his views had changed after observing Trump’s actions more closely. He acknowledged that he had previously fallen into the trap of following popular opinion and wished he had done more independent thinking.
watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him (i wish i had done more of my own thinking and definitely fell in the npc trap).
i’m not going to agree with him on everything, but i think he will be incredible for the country in many ways!
Elon Musk’s take on Stargate
Trump’s Stargate Project has made headlines for its scale and ambition.
The $500 billion initiative is expected to boost America’s AI competitiveness, bringing together a consortium of major players, including OpenAI and Nvidia.
The project plans to develop cutting-edge data centres nationwide, a move that Trump claims will “solidify the US as the global leader in AI.”
However, Musk has criticised the financial backing behind the venture, pointing to SoftBank’s reportedly limited funds of less than $10 billion.
They don’t actually have the money
Musk argued that the consortium’s funding falls far short of what’s needed to complete the infrastructure buildout, fuelling speculation about the project’s viability.
Adding to the intrigue, Altman fired back at Musk’s critique, claiming the project was already under way and offered Musk a chance to visit the first site.
While Altman remains optimistic about the initiative’s impact on the US economy and AI advancements, Musk’s doubts reflect his ongoing scepticism of large-scale collaborative ventures in the tech space.
A history of rivalry
The tension between Elon Musk and Sam Altman isn’t new; it traces back to Musk’s departure from OpenAI’s board in 2018.
At the time, Musk cited potential conflicts of interest as he ramped up AI efforts at Tesla.
However, reports suggested that deeper disagreements over the direction of OpenAI also played a role.
Musk has also filed a lawsuit against the company last year, accusing it of straying from its original mission as a nonprofit research organisation focused on benefiting the public.
Musk has since intensified the legal battle, introducing additional claims and seeking a court order to prevent OpenAI from fully transitioning into a for-profit entity. A hearing is scheduled for February in a federal court in California.
This latest exchange is another chapter in their ongoing feud, which has evolved into a broader debate over AI’s future and the ethics of its leadership.
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