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CNN
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Elon Musk has not only been challenging the federal establishment but is also attempting to regain control of the artificial intelligence startup he co-founded with Sam Altman, who was once his partner but now stands as his competitor in the ongoing tussle of power during the second Trump administration.

Musk’s unsolicited $97 billion offer for OpenAI appears to be yet another publicity maneuver. While he expresses a strong desire to acquire the technology behind ChatGPT and claims he is willing to invest significantly, it is improbable that OpenAI will agree to the sale with Altman quickly dismissing the offer via a “no thank you” tweet.

One might assume this story concludes here. However, one has to wonder why Musk would go to such lengths, involving investors and legal teams, only to release a press statement?

Certainly, there are elements of rivalry, where Musk might just be asserting his dominance over Altman. However, I believe there are additional underlying motivations at play.

A) Musk aims to disrupt Altman’s plans. By making the bid public, Musk has likely complicated Altman’s main objective of liberating OpenAI from its non-profit constraints. To simplify the intricate ownership structure of OpenAI: there is a for-profit division (the part attracting investor interest) currently overseen by a non-profit board.

Altman is feeling immense pressure from investors to transform the entire operation into a for-profit entity, which necessitates compensating the non-profit. By publicly raising the stakes (without any guarantee of completing the acquisition), Musk has elevated the valuation of the non-profit at a time when OpenAI is facing significant financial challenges.

While addressing an AI summit in Paris, Altman seemed unfazed by Musk’s latest effort — part of an ongoing series — to impede the growth of OpenAI.

“I wish he would simply focus on competition by creating a superior product,” Altman remarked during a Bloomberg TV interview.

B) Musk has a genuine interest in shaping AI’s trajectory. Should there be even a remote possibility for Musk to acquire OpenAI’s top-tier technology, talent, and brand influence, he is likely to pursue it. Theoretically, he could take control of OpenAI, integrate it with his xAI lab, and establish a formidable entity that would lead in an increasingly competitive market.

All of this would be facilitated by the current political environment, which aligns with his skepticism towards regulatory constraints and encourages him to dismantle the agencies that supervise his business ventures.

At the same summit where Altman spoke, Vice President JD Vance outlined the administration’s aim to inject a more “deregulatory essence” into AI dialogues, while suggesting that “excessive regulation” could hinder AI just as it begins to flourish.

It’s crucial to clarify that there isn’t much “excessive” regulation impacting AI because the sector is nearly unregulated. Former President Joe Biden’s executive order sought to address national security risks connected with AI and mitigate discrimination but proved largely ineffective, and these measures were rescinded by Trump last month. If the industry struggles, it’s primarily due to its own technological limitations and its failure to develop products that are reliable and appealing to users.

As AI researcher Gary Marcus pointed out on Tuesday, Vance’s “threat of an imagined danger” hints at how the Biden administration (potentially with Musk’s influence) will tackle AI: “The coming administration will prioritize safeguarding business interests, while neglecting individual protection.”

This brings us back to the dynamic between Musk and Altman: This isn’t a battle of good versus evil. It’s not as if Altman serves as a counterbalance to Musk’s dominance (he could simply represent a younger, more charismatic version of it). However, if there’s a side worth supporting, it’s the one advocating for competition. Healthy competition is essential, and consolidation in an industry as nascent as AI could lead to unchecked power, something Musk undoubtedly does not require more of.