Elon Musk and Sam Altman, two key figures in the tech world and former co-founders of OpenAI, are once again exchanging barbs on Musk’s social media platform, X. Their ongoing feud, which has unfolded across social media, legal documents, and corporate announcements, recently became more public when Altman shared a humorous yet frustrating account of his experience with Tesla.
In a post he dubbed “a tale in three acts,” Altman detailed his attempts to cancel his long-standing reservation for a Tesla Roadster made back in 2018. After waiting for an extraordinary 7.5 years, he expressed his discontent about the delay and noted that his email seeking a refund for his $50,000 reservation fee had bounced back. “I really was excited for the car! And I understand delays. But 7.5 years has felt like a long time to wait,” Altman wrote.
Originally unveiled in November 2017, the second-generation Roadster has been hit with multiple delays. Recently, Musk hinted that a new version of the car will be revealed by the end of this year, igniting hopes among eager fans and potential buyers.
Musk did not shy away from responding to Altman’s post, accusing him of having “stolen a nonprofit,” a criticism he has leveled against Altman and OpenAI multiple times. Musk’s disdain for OpenAI’s transition into a for-profit model has been evident in various formats, including tweets, lawsuits, and public comments.
In an interesting twist, Musk launched his own AI company, xAI, which has filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Apple, alleging collusion to hinder competition. Altman, in turn, challenged Musk’s assertions, calling them “remarkable” while pointing out Musk’s alleged manipulations on his platform to further his own business interests.
To conclude the latest round of their digital sparring, Musk claimed that Altman’s account omitted key details. “And you forgot to mention act 4, where this issue was fixed and you received a refund within 24 hours,” Musk replied, implying that Altman’s narrative was incomplete.
This ongoing back-and-forth highlights not only the rivalry between two influential tech figures but also reflects broader themes of competition and transparency in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and automotive technology. As both entrepreneurs continue to navigate their paths, their exchanges keep the public engaged, showcasing the complex and often contentious dynamics present in the tech industry.