Elon Musk Spends 18 Hours Repeatedly Attacking Sam Altman

Tech billionaire Elon Musk took to X, the social media platform he owns, to repeatedly attack OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman.

The world's richest man made 23 posts, reposts and replies targeting Altman in an 18-hour period on Wednesday and Thursday after President Donald Trump named OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, as a partner in Stargate, a new multi-company project designed to maintain the U.S. as the global leader in artificial intelligence.

Newsweek has contacted OpenAI and Tesla via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Altman and several others co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with Musk, who has since become a staunch Trump ally.

However, a feud has since emerged between the two tech entrepreneurs, and Musk criticized Stargate and accused Altman of putting profits ahead of public interest as well as being insincere in his newfound support for Trump.

What To Know

After Stargate was announced, Musk took to X on Wednesday morning EST, reposting and commenting laughing emojis under a series of memes mocking Stargate's $500 billion funding announcement, suggesting the companies involved didn't have the money.

By early afternoon, Musk had called Altman a "a swindler" and accused him of lying about having no equity in or profit ambitions with OpenAI.

After a six-hour break, Musk returned shortly before 8 p.m. with a screenshot of an Altman post from 2021 that was critical of Trump.

The post was followed by several replies and reposts (1, 2, 3, 4) amplifying claims about Altman being "anti-Trump" and funding "propaganda" and working with Reid Hoffman, a prominent Silicon Valley Democratic donor.

Altman responded to Musk early in the exchange on Wednesday, posting: "i genuinely respect your accomplishments and think you are the most inspiring entrepreneur of our time." Musk did not publicly address the reply and continued posting criticisms until after midnight, beginning again on Thursday morning.

At 12:46 a.m. EST on Thursday, Musk posted a video of Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella saying he was ready to invest $80 billion in Stargate.

"On the other hand, Satya definitely does have the money," Musk wrote.

Musk capped the spree on Thursday morning with a reply agreeing that Altman's actions made "Zuck look sincere by comparison."

What People Are Saying

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, to Elon Musk, on X: "I genuinely respect your accomplishments and think you are the most inspiring entrepreneur of our time."

Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist, to reporters, after Musk criticized Stargate: "He [Musk] should not reverse what the president's already talked about. It's unacceptable and unsatisfactory. You've seen how out of control he is."

President Donald Trump, during a Tuesday press-conference about Stargate: "This monumental undertaking is a resounding declaration of confidence in America's potential under a new president."

What Happens Next

As Stargate progresses, tension between Altman and Musk could affect the program's development. Meanwhile, Altman's comments may signal closer collaboration between OpenAI and the Trump administration in the months to come.