The complex and contentious relationship between two of Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and tech billionaire Elon Musk, is becoming a hot topic. Although the two are currently fierce rivals in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) arena, internal sources reveal that Altman once sought to mend and soothe the rift with OpenAI’s former co-founder.

Specifically, Sam Altman reportedly prepared a subtle strategy, focused on posting a meticulously drafted message on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which is owned by Musk.

Altman’s ‘De-escalation’ Strategy

According to sources close to the OpenAI leadership, at a time when the conflict between Musk and the company was escalating—primarily revolving around Musk’s criticism that OpenAI had “deviated” from its original non-profit mission—Altman sought a conciliatory, non-confrontational approach.

The prepared post on X was not intended to debate or defend OpenAI’s policies. Instead, it was designed to express respect for Musk’s founding role and his initial financial contributions.

“It was an attempt to defuse the situation,” one source said. “The post was carefully drafted, acknowledging Musk’s historical contributions and expressing a desire to maintain a constructive relationship, despite the current philosophical differences.”

Historical Conflict and Vain Efforts

Elon Musk was one of the original co-founders of OpenAI in 2015, contributing a significant portion of the initial funding. However, he resigned from the Board of Directors in 2018 due to disagreements over the company’s direction, particularly its pivot towards a capped-profit model necessary to compete in the global AI race.

Since then, Musk has become OpenAI’s most outspoken critic, accusing the company of being controlled by Microsoft and no longer prioritizing AI safety. Recently, Musk established his own AI company, xAI, as a direct competitor, intensifying the rivalry.

Despite Altman’s attempt to find a bridge through a conciliatory post on X, sources indicate that the post was ultimately never published. The reason is believed to be internal opposition from some Board members and investors who felt that any attempt to appease Musk could be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness.

This unsuccessful effort underscores the deep philosophical divide between the two tech leaders. While Sam Altman sought reconciliation, Elon Musk appears to only accept a direct confrontation in the battle to shape the future of Artificial Intelligence.