The Blubber

Sam Altman and Elon Musk co-founded OpenAI, but their partnership has since soured into a complex and contentious relationship.

In an interview with The Free Press on Thursday, Altman referred to Musk as "clearly a bully" and characterized Musk's ongoing public criticism of OpenAI as a "sideshow."

Musk, who stepped away from OpenAI in 2018, has become one of the AI startup's most vocal critics, frequently targeting both the company and Altman, its current CEO. In August, Musk refiled a lawsuit, alleging he had been "deceived" by Altman and fellow co-founder Greg Brockman into founding OpenAI. Additionally, Musk has sought a court injunction to prevent OpenAI from operating as a for-profit entity. OpenAI responded by releasing emails that indicated Musk had initially advocated for the for-profit structure while still at the organization.

Altman acknowledged Musk's contributions to OpenAI's early success, calling him a "legendary entrepreneur." However, he also criticized Musk's approach. "He's also clearly a bully, and someone who enjoys getting into fights," Altman remarked, referencing Musk's well-documented clashes with figures like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates.

Altman suggested that Musk's hostility might stem from OpenAI's recent achievements and its status as a competitor to Musk's own AI venture. Musk launched xAI last year, which has since introduced multiple iterations of its chatbot, Grok.

"Everything we're doing, I believe Elon would support if he were still in control of OpenAI," Altman said. "He left when he thought we were destined to fail and when he couldn't maintain total control over the company."

Altman’s remarks coincide with Musk's rising influence in the political sphere, as he prepares for a significant role in the second Trump administration. Despite Musk’s prominent position, Altman expressed confidence that Musk would not use his political power to target rivals.