Elon Musk and Sam Altman Continue Their Ongoing Feud on Social Media Platform X
Elon Musk and Sam Altman, former collaborators at OpenAI, are at it again, exchanging barbs on Musk’s social media platform, X. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between the two prominent figures in the tech industry.
Background of the Conflict
Both Musk and Altman played pivotal roles in founding OpenAI, with Altman currently serving as its CEO. However, their relationship has deteriorated over time, leading to public disagreements across social media, legal documents, and official blog posts from their respective companies.
The Latest Exchange
The most recent conflict was ignited by Altman, who shared a “tale in three acts” on X. The narrative included screenshots of his attempt to cancel his $50,000 reservation for a Tesla Roadster, which he originally made in 2018. Despite being initially eager about the purchase, Altman expressed frustration at the extended wait time of 7.5 years, stating, “I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait.”
The second-generation Roadster was initially unveiled in November 2017 but has faced numerous delays. Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has indicated that a new version is expected to be revealed by the end of this year.
Musk’s Retort
Musk wasted no time in responding to Altman’s post. He accused Altman of “stealing a nonprofit,” a sentiment Musk has previously expressed towards OpenAI. This criticism has manifested not only on social media but also through legal actions and attempts to impede OpenAI’s transition into a for-profit organization, a move they recently completed while retaining a non-profit arm to oversee operations.
Additionally, Musk has launched a competing artificial intelligence venture, xAI, which is currently engaged in legal action against both OpenAI and Apple. The claims suggest that the two entities are colluding to hinder competition in the tech space. In response to Musk’s comments, Altman remarked, “It’s remarkable… given what I have heard alleged that Elon does to manipulate X to benefit himself and his own companies while harming his competitors and people he doesn’t like.”
Musk Questions Altman’s Account
In his latest criticism, Musk insinuated that Altman’s portrayal of the situation was incomplete, claiming, “You forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours. But that is in your nature.”
The ongoing rivalry between Musk and Altman underscores a more significant trend within the tech industry, reflecting the intense competition and conflicting interests among its leaders.
Conclusion
As their public feud continues, both men remain influential figures in the tech landscape, and their interactions are closely monitored by industry observers. The future of OpenAI and its relationship with Musk, along with the anticipated release of the Tesla Roadster, will undoubtedly keep this saga in the spotlight.
