Key Takeaways
- OpenAI board discussed merging with rival Anthropic during 2023 leadership crisis
- Elon Musk and Sam Altman reignite public feud over new revelations
- Merger talks collapsed due to practical challenges after brief consideration
- Nearly 700 OpenAI employees threatened mass resignation over Altman’s ouster
Musk vs Altman Feud Reignites Over OpenAI Merger Revelations
The long-standing rivalry between Elon Musk and Sam Altman has flared up again following explosive revelations about OpenAI’s internal discussions to merge with Anthropic during the 2023 leadership crisis.
Former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever’s deposition in Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI confirmed the board seriously considered combining forces with its AI rival just days after Altman’s abrupt dismissal.
Social Media Spat Escalates
Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to accuse Altman of theft, referencing alleged profiteering from OpenAI’s original mission. The Tesla CEO described Sutskever’s 52-page deposition as “a tale in 52 pages.”
Altman responded by revealing Musk once wanted Tesla to acquire OpenAI outright. The OpenAI CEO attempted to downplay the conflict, asking “Can’t we all just move on?”
Behind the Failed Merger Talks
According to Sutskever’s testimony, Anthropic approached OpenAI board member Helen Toner on November 18, 2023 – just one day after Altman and president Greg Brockman were removed from their positions.
The discussions included a proposal for Anthropic to assume leadership of OpenAI’s operations. However, the merger talks quickly collapsed due to what Sutskever described as “practical obstacles.”
Sutskever opposed the merger idea, while Toner appeared more receptive to the proposal.
Employee Rebellion Forces Reversal
The board’s decision to fire Altman sparked immediate backlash within OpenAI. Nearly 700 of the company’s 770 employees threatened to resign unless Altman was reinstated.
Facing pressure from Microsoft and key investors, the board reversed its decision within days. Altman and Brockman were restored to their positions on November 22, ending one of the most chaotic periods in OpenAI’s history.
