Elon Musk accuses Sam Altman of lying about Tesla Roadster refund

Elon Musk has publicly refuted claims made by Sam Altman regarding the refund for the cancellation of his Tesla Roadster. Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, had previously shared screenshots of his Tesla Roadster order, expressing that while he was eager for the car, waiting 7.5 years felt excessively long. In his statements, Altman noted that his request for a refund of the $50,000 deposit went unanswered by the Tesla team. In response, Musk took to social media to clarify the situation, asserting that Altman did not provide the complete story. He claimed that Altman had received his refund within 24 hours of requesting it. Musk remarked, "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 highly anticipated Tesla Roadster was initially unveiled in 2017, with production initially slated for 2020. However, the project has encountered numerous delays. Musk recently indicated that Tesla is nearing the point of showcasing a prototype, promising that the unveiling would be memorable, regardless of the outcome. Additionally, Musk accused Altman of 'stealing a non-profit,' referencing OpenAI's transition from a non-profit organization to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). This shift has sparked ongoing speculation about the integrity of OpenAI's mission. Although OpenAI maintains that the non-profit retains significant control over the new structure, Musk's allegations have persisted. As a co-founder of OpenAI, Musk has initiated several lawsuits against the organization. He contends that OpenAI has deviated from its foundational goal of developing AI for the public good, instead morphing into a 'closed-source, maximum-profit company' primarily influenced by Microsoft. In a recent legal action, Musk's company xAI accused OpenAI of attempting to misappropriate trade secrets by targeting and recruiting key personnel. OpenAI has consistently denied Musk's allegations, arguing that the for-profit shift was necessary to secure the funding required to advance its AI technologies. Moreover, OpenAI has countersued Musk, alleging that he has employed 'bad-faith tactics' and 'unlawful harassment' to undermine the organization's reputation. This ongoing feud highlights the fierce competition in the AI sector, where OpenAI's ChatGPT remains a dominant player, while Musk aims to bolster his Grok AI chatbot via his social media platform and related ventures.