Elon Musk tells Sam Altman ‘you stole a non-profit’, OpenAI CEO responds

In a recent exchange, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, addressed Elon Musk's accusations regarding the alleged misappropriation of a non-profit model, a reference to OpenAI's transition to a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). Altman defended OpenAI’s evolution, emphasizing that Musk had previously expressed a desire for Tesla to acquire the AI organization, which he claimed would have resulted in a completely different outcome. In a post on X, Altman stated, "I helped turn the thing you left for dead into what should be the largest non-profit ever. You understand better than anyone that a structure like OpenAI's is essential for success." He highlighted Musk’s past comments, asserting that Musk had declared OpenAI had a "0% chance" of succeeding. The two have exchanged barbs frequently, but the latest dispute was ignited after Altman shared a screenshot of his 2017 order for a Tesla Roadster, expressing frustration over the lack of response regarding his cancellation request for a refund of his $50,000 deposit. Musk countered Altman's claims, asserting that the refund was processed promptly, within 24 hours, and accused Altman of being dishonest. During a recent appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, Musk promoted the upcoming prototype of the Roadster, promising that the product demonstration would be memorable, regardless of the outcome. Both Musk and Altman were among the founders of OpenAI, with Musk being an early supporter aimed at challenging Google's dominance in the AI sector. However, differences arose, leading to Musk's departure in 2018. Following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022, Musk has been vocal in his criticism of OpenAI, suggesting the organization has strayed from its foundational mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity in favor of profit. Additionally, Musk has initiated several lawsuits against OpenAI, with his most recent complaint targeting Apple for allegedly prioritizing ChatGPT in its app store rankings.