Sam Altman Calls Elon Musk a Bully but Open to Working Together

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called co-founder Elon Musk a bully during an interview with Vanity Fair, while reiterating that he would still work with the SpaceXAI and Tesla leader if necessary. Altman outlined his perspective on their turbulent professional relationship during a conversation with Vanity Fair, addressing past legal disputes and the current state of the artificial intelligence industry.

Sam Altman Calls Elon Musk a Bully in Vanity Fair Interview

Altman stated that companies like OpenAI need to collaborate to develop artificial intelligence technology safely. When asked about past public friction between the two executives, Altman rejected the idea that he initiated the conflict.

Who do you think has been nicer to each other in that relationship? I won’t call myself a saint. But I’m not sure if I’m the one that you’re supposed to come after between Elon and me.

Sam Altman

Altman added that he dislikes bullies and believes Musk fits that description. He explained that bullies only respect those who push back, which informed his approach to the Tesla chief.

Look, I don’t like bullies, and I think Elon’s a bully. And so I think once in a while you got to punch a bully back in the nose. And I also think Elon, like many bullies, only respects people who do. So if you want me to be able to work with him, maybe you should be happy I hit back once in a while, but I will work with Elon, of course.

Sam Altman

Elon Musk Sues OpenAI over Shift Toward Profit

Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside Altman, serving as co-chair before resigning from the Board of Directors in 2018. Musk cited a potential future conflict between his responsibilities at OpenAI and artificial intelligence advancements at Tesla.

In 2024, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman, accusing them of steering the organization away from its initial public benefit mission toward profit optimization. OpenAI responded with a countersuit, accusing Musk of utilizing bad-faith tactics to damage the company’s reputation and hinder its development.

Musk amended his legal filings in April to demand that OpenAI reverse its transition from a non-profit to a for-profit entity. However, a federal ground jury ruled in OpenAI’s favor in May, determining that Musk had missed the filing deadlines to sue the company.

Sam Altman Emphasizes Industry Cooperation for AI Development

Despite the legal battles and personal friction, Altman emphasized that cooperation remains vital across the technology sector. He noted that leaders across the industry recognize the urgency of the moment.

Speaking for myself, my statements on this I think have been unbelievably consistent over the last decade. The thing that is different now is more people feel it and believe it and we may have a window of public support to do it.

Sam Altman

Altman concluded the interview by reaffirming his and OpenAI’s commitment to working alongside Musk and other industry participants as artificial intelligence technology continues to evolve.