OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Extends Peace Offer to Elon Musk

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has publicly reached out to Elon Musk, urging the possibility of mending their fractured relationship. In a post on X, Altman asked, “Can’t we all just move on?” This plea follows a weekend of heated exchanges, where Musk accused Altman of misappropriating a nonprofit initiative.

Background of the Dispute

The conflict between Altman and Musk traces back to their partnership in 2015, when they co-founded OpenAI as a nonprofit research organization focused on artificial intelligence. The situation began to deteriorate around 2017, as the leadership realized the necessity of securing billions in funding to advance their goals.

Key Events Leading to the Rift

• 2015: OpenAI is established as a nonprofit AI research lab.
• 2017: Leadership acknowledges the need for billions in funding, signaling the start of disagreements.
• February 2018: Musk leaves the board, questioning OpenAI’s future relevance against competitors like Google’s DeepMind.

Musk’s demands for majority equity and control over any potential for-profit arm were rejected by OpenAI’s team. They argued that granting Musk “unilateral absolute control” would compromise their mission to prevent an “AGI dictatorship.” Following Musk’s departure from the board, he proposed that OpenAI merge with Tesla. This suggestion was also declined.

Transformation to a Hybrid Model

The fundamental disagreement escalated with OpenAI’s shift from a nonprofit to a hybrid model, allowing for-profit operations. This restructuring, finalized in October 2025, resulted in the nonprofit Foundation securing a $130 billion equity stake. Critics, including Musk, argue that this evolution undermines the original principles of OpenAI and has effectively turned the company into a profit-driven entity controlled by Microsoft.

Current Developments

Since the split, Musk has launched xAI and pursued legal action against OpenAI while continuously criticizing Altman’s leadership on social media. Despite Altman’s attempts to extend an olive branch through his recent appeal, a reconciliation remains unlikely as both leaders now head rival companies in the competitive AI sector.

Conclusion

The strained relationship between Sam Altman and Elon Musk continues to shape the narrative surrounding OpenAI’s mission and objectives. With both figures at the forefront of AI innovation, their rivalry underlines the complexities inherent in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.