A group of investors led by Elon Musk has made a substantial $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI, the organization responsible for creating ChatGPT. Musk's attorney, Marc Toberoff, confirmed the submission of the bid to OpenAI's board.

This development intensifies the ongoing rivalry between Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman regarding the company's shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit model. Altman humorously declined the offer on Musk's social media platform, X, by proposing to buy Twitter for $9.74 billion instead.

Originally co-founded by Musk in 2015, OpenAI has been at the forefront of AI advancements. However, Musk departed in 2018 and has since argued that the company has deviated from its mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity. OpenAI contends that the for-profit transition is essential for securing necessary funding.

The bid is supported by Musk's AI company, xAI, along with private equity firms such as Baron Capital Group and Valor Management. Musk stated, "It's time for OpenAI to return to the open-source, safety-focused force for good it once was. We will make sure that happens."

Meanwhile, OpenAI is collaborating with Oracle and other investors to build $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure in the US, as announced by President Donald Trump.

The future of OpenAI hangs in the balance as the tech world watches this high-stakes bid unfold.
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