The ongoing rivalry between OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Tesla’s Elon Musk took center stage once again this week after Microsoft revealed plans to integrate OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model across key platforms like Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot, and Azure AI Foundry. In response, Musk tweeted a bold warning: “OpenAI is going to eat Microsoft alive.”
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella quickly sought to ease concerns. Posting on X, Nadella wrote, “People have been trying for 50 years and that’s the fun of it! Each day you learn something new, and innovate, partner, and compete.” Nadella also expressed enthusiasm for Musk’s own Grok 4 chatbot, currently in limited preview on Azure.
However, it was Altman’s sharp remarks during a CNBC “Squawk Box” interview that stole the spotlight. Asked about Musk’s comments, Altman responded casually, “You know, I don’t think about him that much.” He further questioned the meaning behind Musk’s tweets and remarked on the billionaire’s frequent public criticisms of OpenAI: “I thought he was just, like, tweeting all day about how much OpenAI sucks, and our model is bad, and, you know, we’re not gonna be a good company and all that.”
A Long-Standing Feud Born From Shared Beginnings
The tension between Altman and Musk runs deep. The two co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with the shared vision of steering artificial intelligence development towards a safe and equitable future. Over time, their paths diverged sharply. Musk grew critical of OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model backed by Microsoft, even filing — then dropping — a lawsuit alleging breach of contract.
Earlier this year, Musk attempted to buy the nonprofit entity controlling OpenAI for a staggering $97.4 billion, an offer Altman rebuffed on social media with a cheeky, “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” Altman later told CNBC he believed Musk’s bid was intended to “slow down a competitor.”
From Admiration to Disillusionment
In a candid New York Times DealBook summit interview last year, Altman revealed his complicated feelings about Musk: “This is tremendously sad. I grew up with Elon as like a mega hero. I thought what Elon was doing was absolutely incredible for the world.” But the admiration gave way to distance: “I have different feelings about him now, but I’m still glad he exists.”
Altman described Musk as a builder and visionary who pushed many, including himself, to think bigger. Yet, he expressed sadness over Musk’s turn to public criticism and legal disputes instead of focusing purely on competition and innovation.
Altman’s Lighthearted Jabs Reflect Growing Confidence
The rivalry also spills into broader tech and political arenas. In a Bloomberg interview, Altman offered a playful but pointed response to questions about his current relationship with Musk: “How do you think?” This brief reply conveyed both resignation and a growing ease with the competitive dynamic.
Regarding Musk’s recent political foray with the so-called America Party, Altman showed clear disinterest, shrugging off the topic and admitting he had little knowledge about the initiative.
The Battle for AI Talent and Future Growth
Beyond personal tensions, Altman also discussed the fierce scramble for AI talent in the tech industry. “This is the most intense talent market I have seen in my career,” he said on CNBC, pointing to rivals like Meta offering massive compensation packages to lure top engineers.
Despite the buzz around a few star names, Altman emphasized the depth of the talent pool: “There are many thousands of people we could find, and probably tens or hundreds of thousands around the world capable of doing this kind of work.” When pressed on who might unlock the breakthroughs necessary to reach AI superintelligence, he suggested a small but powerful group would drive those innovations.
OpenAI’s Cautious Approach to Going Public
The public is increasingly curious about OpenAI’s future, especially with rumors about a possible IPO. Altman acknowledged this interest but reiterated the company is not in a rush to go public. He pointed to operational complexities and the company’s heavy investment in computing power as reasons for remaining private.
“I have very conflicted — no, I have negative feelings — about how much growth happens in private markets and how not every investor gets access to this phase of growth,” he explained. Still, Altman remains optimistic about OpenAI’s long-term potential: “Whenever we do go public — if we ever go public — I think there will be tremendous upside left in front of the company.”
A Rivalry That Defines AI’s Future
The back-and-forth between Altman and Musk illustrates more than personal animosity — it highlights competing visions for AI’s future and the complex dance between cooperation, competition, and corporate control in one of technology’s most transformative fields. As Altman’s snappy responses suggest, the rivalry is not just alive but intensifying — shaping the way AI evolves in the years to come.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella quickly sought to ease concerns. Posting on X, Nadella wrote, “People have been trying for 50 years and that’s the fun of it! Each day you learn something new, and innovate, partner, and compete.” Nadella also expressed enthusiasm for Musk’s own Grok 4 chatbot, currently in limited preview on Azure.
OpenAI is going to eat Microsoft alive
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2025
However, it was Altman’s sharp remarks during a CNBC “Squawk Box” interview that stole the spotlight. Asked about Musk’s comments, Altman responded casually, “You know, I don’t think about him that much.” He further questioned the meaning behind Musk’s tweets and remarked on the billionaire’s frequent public criticisms of OpenAI: “I thought he was just, like, tweeting all day about how much OpenAI sucks, and our model is bad, and, you know, we’re not gonna be a good company and all that.”
A Long-Standing Feud Born From Shared Beginnings
The tension between Altman and Musk runs deep. The two co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with the shared vision of steering artificial intelligence development towards a safe and equitable future. Over time, their paths diverged sharply. Musk grew critical of OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit model backed by Microsoft, even filing — then dropping — a lawsuit alleging breach of contract.
Earlier this year, Musk attempted to buy the nonprofit entity controlling OpenAI for a staggering $97.4 billion, an offer Altman rebuffed on social media with a cheeky, “No thank you but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.” Altman later told CNBC he believed Musk’s bid was intended to “slow down a competitor.”
From Admiration to Disillusionment
In a candid New York Times DealBook summit interview last year, Altman revealed his complicated feelings about Musk: “This is tremendously sad. I grew up with Elon as like a mega hero. I thought what Elon was doing was absolutely incredible for the world.” But the admiration gave way to distance: “I have different feelings about him now, but I’m still glad he exists.”
Altman described Musk as a builder and visionary who pushed many, including himself, to think bigger. Yet, he expressed sadness over Musk’s turn to public criticism and legal disputes instead of focusing purely on competition and innovation.
Sam Altman on Elon Musk 🔊
— NIK (@ns123abc) December 4, 2024
“This is tremendously sad.. I grew up with Elon as like a mega hero. I thought what Elon was doing was absolutely incredible for the world.
And I'm still, of course, I mean I HAVE DIFFERENT FEELINGS ABOUT HIM NOW, but I'm still glad he exists… And… pic.twitter.com/vgxZqQaamc
Altman’s Lighthearted Jabs Reflect Growing Confidence
The rivalry also spills into broader tech and political arenas. In a Bloomberg interview, Altman offered a playful but pointed response to questions about his current relationship with Musk: “How do you think?” This brief reply conveyed both resignation and a growing ease with the competitive dynamic.
Regarding Musk’s recent political foray with the so-called America Party, Altman showed clear disinterest, shrugging off the topic and admitting he had little knowledge about the initiative.
The Battle for AI Talent and Future Growth
Beyond personal tensions, Altman also discussed the fierce scramble for AI talent in the tech industry. “This is the most intense talent market I have seen in my career,” he said on CNBC, pointing to rivals like Meta offering massive compensation packages to lure top engineers.
Despite the buzz around a few star names, Altman emphasized the depth of the talent pool: “There are many thousands of people we could find, and probably tens or hundreds of thousands around the world capable of doing this kind of work.” When pressed on who might unlock the breakthroughs necessary to reach AI superintelligence, he suggested a small but powerful group would drive those innovations.
OpenAI’s Cautious Approach to Going Public
The public is increasingly curious about OpenAI’s future, especially with rumors about a possible IPO. Altman acknowledged this interest but reiterated the company is not in a rush to go public. He pointed to operational complexities and the company’s heavy investment in computing power as reasons for remaining private.
“I have very conflicted — no, I have negative feelings — about how much growth happens in private markets and how not every investor gets access to this phase of growth,” he explained. Still, Altman remains optimistic about OpenAI’s long-term potential: “Whenever we do go public — if we ever go public — I think there will be tremendous upside left in front of the company.”
A Rivalry That Defines AI’s Future
The back-and-forth between Altman and Musk illustrates more than personal animosity — it highlights competing visions for AI’s future and the complex dance between cooperation, competition, and corporate control in one of technology’s most transformative fields. As Altman’s snappy responses suggest, the rivalry is not just alive but intensifying — shaping the way AI evolves in the years to come.
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