In quite a surprising development between two of tech’s most influential figures, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly suggested a reconciliation with his rival and fellow tech boss Elon Musk.
It was an unexpected gesture, coming at a particularly contentious moment, as their legal dispute recently cleared a big hurdle toward a 2026 trial date.
A Public Peace Offering
The exchange unfolded on X a few days ago when Musk posted a thinking emoji alongside a 2016 quote about Altman opposing Trump.
Altman responded by acknowledging past political stances, writing that both he and Musk were wrong in criticizing Trump in 2016, “or at least I was.”
He also added, “Anyway, see you next week, let’s be friends,” essentially suggesting their feud shouldn’t overshadow more important goals like developing artificial general intelligence (AGI).
anyway, see you next week, let’s be friends
agi too important to let a lil feud get in the way
— Sam Altman (@sama) May 10, 2025
Musk’s response was characteristically terse. After Altman posed a hypothetical question about AI leadership, Musk reposted his own AI chatbot Grok’s analysis with just three words: “Asked and answered” – was he shutting the door that Altman had attempted to open?
From Co-Founders to Courtroom Adversaries
The two weren’t always at odds. In 2015, they co-founded OpenAI with the mission of developing AGI to benefit humanity. Musk provided plenty of early funding but departed in 2018 over disagreements about the organization’s direction.
The breaking point came when OpenAI transitioned from a purely non-profit structure to a “capped-profit” model, eventually securing a $14 billion investment from Microsoft.
Musk has characterized this shift as a betrayal of OpenAI’s founding principles, while the company maintains it was necessary to secure the resources needed to compete with tech giants.
Legal Battle Advances
Just days before Altman’s peace offering, a U.S. judge rejected OpenAI’s attempt to dismiss Musk’s lawsuit, allowing key parts of the case to proceed.
The judge found sufficient merit in allegations that OpenAI misrepresented its structure to secure Musk’s initial support and acknowledged there might be an “implied” agreement between the parties.
This legal development makes Altman’s timing curious, to say the least. Offering friendship while legal teams prepare for battle suggests either remarkable optimism or strategic positioning. Does Altman fear losing the legal battle, or is this a strategic move of some sort?
Parallel Paths and Political Shifts
Both men have undergone notable political evolutions.
Musk has become a close Trump ally and now heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), while Altman collaborates with the current administration on Project Stargate, a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative.
Meanwhile, their companies continue to compete directly.
Musk’s xAI, founded in 2023, developed the Grok chatbot as a direct competitor to ChatGPT. Both companies have raised billions in funding—OpenAI secured $6.6 billion in October 2024, while xAI raised up to $6 billion the following month.
Industry Implications
Beyond the personal drama, the feud has real implications for AI development globally.
Some industry analysts suggest the rivalry has actually accelerated innovation, with each company pushing boundaries to outperform the other. Others worry that duplicated efforts and resources could delay important safety protocols and ethical frameworks.
Leading AI experts have expressed concerns about the concentration of AI power in profit-driven entities. Their warning echoes Musk’s claims while raising broader questions about who should control technologies that could fundamentally reshape society.
Battle Lines Drawn
Despite Altman’s apparent willingness to reconcile, the path forward seems fraught with complications. With a 2026 trial now scheduled and billions of dollars at stake, their relationship appears likely to remain professionally adversarial for the foreseeable future.
The irony isn’t lost on industry observers: two men who founded an organization to ensure AI benefits humanity can’t seem to collaborate on that mission themselves.
As these powerful tech figures continue to shape the future of artificial intelligence from opposite corners, the tech industry watches with interest, and occasionally reaches for popcorn.
What remains clear is that regardless of personal dynamics, both Altman and Musk will continue to wield enormous influence over how AI technology develops.
Whether as collaborators or competitors, their actions will help determine whether artificial general intelligence ultimately serves the broad human interests they once jointly championed.
