Tensions between technology leaders Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman were on full display this week after the Tesla CEO slammed the new artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure project, Stargate, which is being funded in part by Altman’s company.
The back-and-forth began Wednesday morning when Musk, an ally and advisor to President Trump, claimed the Stargate project does not have the $500 billion promised for the project, less than a day after the president touted the joint venture.
Trump announced the investment at a press conference on Tuesday and was joined by Altman, Oracle founder Larry Ellison and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, whose three companies have committed to an initial $100 billion investment in the project.
The project will focus on building the infrastructure needed to support AI development and meet the high energy demands of the technology.
Musk on Wednesday claimed “they don’t actually have the money” and later said, “SoftBank has well under $10B secured.”
Altman initially responded with praise for Musk, who co-founded OpenAI with him in 2015 but left the company in 2018 over concerns about the future of the AI firm.
“[I] genuinely respect your accomplishments and think you are the most inspiring entrepreneur of our time,” Altman wrote.
Less than an hour later, the OpenAI issued a stronger rebuke, inviting Musk to visit one of the Stargate projects already underway in Texas.
“[Wrong, as you surely know. want to come visit the first site already under way? this is great for the country. i realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role i hope you’ll mostly put [the U.S.] first.”
Later Wednesday, Musk fired off or reposted at least 10 posts slamming Altman and OpenAI’s plans to turn itself into a for-profit business
In one post late Wednesday night, Musk wrote Altman “literally testified to Congress that he wouldn’t get OpenAI compensation and now he wants $10 billion! What a liar.”
Musk was likely referring to Altman’s 2023 testimony, during which he told Congress he was paid only enough to qualify for health insurance.
Altman followed up with an apparent shot at Musk this morning, writing, “just one more mean tweet and then maybe you’ll love yourself…”
Altman’s comments resurfaced last fall when OpenAI confirmed its plans to restructure into a for-profit business, departing from its roots as a nonprofit research lab.
Musk, an original co-founder of OpenAI, has filed a lawsuit against the company, Altman and Greg Brockman, another OpenAI co-founder, alleging the ChatGPT maker strayed from its roots to pursue profits over benefiting the public good. A hearing is set for February in the matter.
The SpaceX CEO also reposted X posts blasting OpenAI for its new partnership with Axios, where the AI firm will fund four new Axios local newsrooms in a three-year deal.
In one repost by Musk, a user wrote, “Sam Altman’s OpenAI revealed as backer of Axios just as news outlets attacks Trump’s immigration policies on religious grounds.”
“The three-year deal marks OpenAI’s first direct control of newsroom operations,” the user wrote. “So much for AI neutrality – looks like Altman’s checkbook and Axios’ headlines are perfectly aligned. Both companies claim ‘editorial independence.'”
The Hill reached out to OpenAI and Axios for comment.
Altman did not respond to most of Musk’s posts but did explain his sudden shift on Trump, whom he previously criticized during past elections.
“watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him (i wish i had done more of my own thinking and definitely fell in the npc trap),” Altman wrote Wednesday. “i’m not going to agree with him on everything, but i think he will be incredible for the country in many ways!”
Altman is a longtime Democratic donor but broke from his ways in recent months when he donated $1 million of his personal cash to Trump’s inaugural fund. He was one of several technology leaders at Trump’s inauguration and has said he believes Trump will advance AI development.
Altman celebrated the Stargate project and said he is “thrilled” to do the work in the U.S. while speaking to reporters Tuesday.
Musk jabbed at Altman’s shift in support, reposting users who resurfaced the OpenAI leader’s comments.
One of Altman’s resurfaced comments from 2016 said, “Back to work tomorrow on a new project to stop Trump,” while another post from 2021 praised LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman for his donations to President Biden in his 2020 race against Trump.
“Very few people realize how much @reidhoffman did and spent to stop Trump from getting re-elected – it seems reasonably likely to me that Trump would still be in office without his efforts. Thank you Reid!,” Altman wrote in 2021 weeks after Biden won the 2020 election against Trump.
