Elon Musk and Sam Altman continue their public disagreement on Musk’s social media platform, X. Both men were original founders of OpenAI, where Altman now serves as CEO. Their ongoing conflict has played out across social media, in legal court filings, and through corporate blog posts.
The most recent exchange started when Sam Altman shared what he described as a tale in three acts. He posted screenshots showing that he reserved a Tesla Roadster in 2018 and recently attempted to cancel the order and request a refund for his fifty thousand dollar reservation fee. His request was complicated when his email to the company bounced. Altman expressed that he was genuinely excited for the car and understands delays, but felt that seven and a half years was a long time to wait.
The second-generation Roadster was first announced in November of 2017. Its production has been delayed multiple times. Elon Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla, has recently stated that a new version of the car will be unveiled by the end of this year.
Musk first responded to Altman’s post by accusing him of stealing a nonprofit. This is a criticism Musk has directed at Altman and OpenAI before, not only in social media posts but also through lawsuits and takeover bids. These legal actions aimed to block OpenAI’s restructuring into a for-profit company, a process the company has now completed, though its original nonprofit arm retains control over the for-profit public benefit corporation.
Musk has also started a rival artificial intelligence startup called xAI. This company is currently suing both OpenAI and Apple, alleging the two companies are colluding to stifle competition. In response to these allegations, Altman called the accusation remarkable, citing what he has heard alleged about Musk manipulating X to benefit his own companies and harm his competitors.
Beyond repeating his criticism of Altman and OpenAI, Musk also suggested that Altman’s screenshots did not tell the complete story. Musk claimed that Altman forgot to mention a fourth act, where the issue was fixed and he received his refund within twenty-four hours. Musk concluded by saying that such an omission is in Altman’s nature.