Musk's $97.4B OpenAI bid rejected, Altman mocks offer.

Elon Musk’s latest $94.7 billion bid to take control of OpenAI has reignited a fierce rivalry with CEO Sam Altman a clash that’s about much more than money.

This feud is a battle over AI’s future direction, the mission of one of its most influential organizations, and the balance between open innovation and commercialization.

👉 Today’s Issue:

• Why Musk wants to reclaim OpenAI’s original vision
  

• The escalating tensions—from lawsuits to social media memes
  

•  What does this mean for the broader AI ecosystem and governance?

AI News

➔ Featured Story

🤖Elon Musk and Sam Altman’s OpenAI Feud
 ^Tribune

Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, claims the organization has drifted from its founding principles of open-source transparency and safety. His takeover bid comes amid years of tension, including a 2024 lawsuit accusing OpenAI of prioritizing profits over the public good.

Altman, steering OpenAI towards commercial success, quickly rejected Musk’s offer, with a sarcastic counter: OpenAI would rather buy Musk’s social media platform X for $9.74 billion.


Key Points:

• Musk stepped down from OpenAI’s board in 2018, while Altman grew the company’s for-profit arm
  

• Social media likened their feud to a "tech and finance bro" rivalry between Kendrick and Drake.
  

• Public taunts include Musk calling Altman “Scam Altman”
  

• The battle threatens OpenAI’s $500 billion Project Stargate partnership with Oracle and SoftBank.
  
  

Why It Matters: This is a defining moment for AI governance. Musk’s vision is heavily influenced by openness and public safety, whereas Altman focuses on rapid commercial growth and global partnerships.

Who controls OpenAI controls a critical piece of the AI future, influencing everything from transparency to access to technology. Founders and investors must watch this battle closely; it’s about much more than boardroom drama,  it’s about the future shape of AI itself.

➔ Other Notable AI News

•  FTC Probes AI Industry Over Competition Concerns
  Investigations focus on compute resource monopolies and exclusive deals.
  👉 Bloomberg

• Google DeepMind Expands Gemini Agent Capabilities
  New autonomous agents enhance multi-app workflows.
  👉 The Verge

• NVIDIA Launches Sovereign AI Model Support Kits
  Targeted at governments building localized AI infrastructure.
  👉 TechCrunch

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James Brooks—The Leader’s Leverage editorial team