Elon Musk Accuses Sam Altman of Lying About Tesla Roadster Refund: 'That's in Your Nature...'
In a recent online exchange, Elon Musk has refuted Sam Altman's claims regarding the Tesla Roadster refund process. Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, initially shared screenshots of his order for the Tesla Roadster, expressing his excitement for the car but noting the long wait time of 7.5 years. He also mentioned not receiving a response to his email requesting a refund for the $50,000 deposit.
However, Musk countered that Altman had omitted a crucial part of the story. According to Musk, Altman received a refund for the car deposit within 24 hours. Musk's response highlighted this detail, suggesting that Altman's lack of transparency was a characteristic of his approach.
The Tesla Roadster, unveiled by Musk in 2017 with a production target set for 2020, has faced numerous delays. Despite the setbacks, Musk remains confident that the company is nearing the demonstration of a prototype. He has emphasized that the unveiling will be memorable, regardless of its outcome.
This exchange comes amidst ongoing tensions between Musk and Altman. Altman, an original co-founder of OpenAI, has transformed the company into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), sparking accusations from Musk of 'stealing a non-profit.' Musk, who has also filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI, claims the company has abandoned its original mission to develop AI for the benefit of humanity, favoring a closed-source, profit-driven model controlled by Microsoft.
Additionally, Musk's xAI has alleged that OpenAI attempted to steal trade secrets by poaching key employees. OpenAI, in response, has denied all accusations, asserting that the transition to a for-profit model was necessary to secure the capital required for advanced AI development and deployment. The company has also counter-sued Musk, accusing him of employing 'bad-faith tactics' and 'unlawful harassment' to damage their reputation.
The rivalry between these tech giants in the AI space continues, with ChatGPT maintaining its global lead, while Musk's Grok AI chatbot strives to gain a stronger foothold.
