OpenAI's Board Rejects Elon Musk's Acquisition Attempt

According to sources familiar with the matter, OpenAI’s board has rejected an offer from Elon Musk to acquire the artificial intelligence company. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018, reportedly made the offer as part of his strategy to disrupt competition in the AI sector. The board viewed this attempt as potentially harmful to OpenAI’s mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits humanity. The rejection comes amid Musk’s increasing criticism of OpenAI’s shift towards a commercial model and its partnership with Microsoft. The board’s decision reflects their commitment to maintaining OpenAI’s independence and its original nonprofit mission, despite the company’s hybrid structure that includes a for-profit entity. Sources indicate that Musk’s offer was seen as particularly concerning given his development of xAI, a competing artificial intelligence company, and his public statements about AI safety concerns. The rejection also highlights the growing tension between different approaches to AI development and commercialization in the tech industry. OpenAI’s leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, has maintained that their current structure best serves their mission while allowing for necessary capital investment in AI research and development. This development underscores the complex dynamics between AI companies’ commercial interests and their stated ethical commitments to responsible AI development.

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-board-rejects-elon-musk-offer-buy-company-disrupt-competition-2025-2