Musk-Backed Investor Group Proposes $97.4 Billion Bid for OpenAI Platform – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:14 PM – Monday, February 10, 2025
A consortium of investors, spearheaded by tech entrepreneur and DOGE leader Elon Musk, has made a $97.4 billion proposition to acquire OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT.
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Musk was one of the co-founders of OpenAI alongside Sam Altman back in 2015, but he distanced himself from the organization in 2019 due to disagreements over its strategic direction and governance, particularly as it leaned toward a more profit-driven model. This also raised concerns regarding conflicts of interest with Musk’s position at Tesla, which has been actively developing its own AI technology for autonomous vehicles.
In the meantime, Musk has been vocal in his criticism of Altman, condemning the transition towards a for-profit structure and accusing him of forsaking the founding principle of open-source development.
“It’s essential for OpenAI to revert to its original purpose: a safety-oriented, open-source initiative,” Musk stated. “We are committed to making that happen.”
Altman’s initiative to reshape the company’s “vision” toward a profit-centric approach has even led Musk to pursue legal action, alleging that OpenAI has been colluding with Microsoft to dominate the AI landscape.
Musk has also criticized President Donald Trump’s $500 billion Open-AI infrastructure project collaboration, known as the Stargate Initiative, questioning the financial viability of the involved parties.
This initiative, led by major tech firms including OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, aims to establish the largest AI infrastructure project in history, ensuring that the U.S. maintains its technological edge, particularly over China, and does not become overly reliant on foreign AI systems.
Trump has articulated his intention to leverage the nation’s vast energy resources to foster economic growth in areas where the U.S. seeks to assert global leadership. The infrastructure is expected to enhance national security capabilities, featuring AI-driven surveillance, autonomous defense systems, and bolstered cybersecurity measures.
In response to Musk’s acquisition bid, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly declined the offer via an X post, quipping: “No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you’re interested.”
If Musk’s bid is successful, there is a possibility that his current AI project, “xAI,” could merge with Altman’s OpenAI, despite Altman’s initial opposition.
Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, has indicated that Musk’s group of investors is poised to match or surpass any competing offers for the company, which is presently valued at approximately $157 billion.
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