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AI Business
Jul 12, 2026

Elon Musk and Sam Altman Engage in Public Dispute on X Amid Legal Issues

Jul 12, 2026
AI Summary

Elon Musk and Sam Altman exchanged criticisms on social media following Apple's lawsuit against OpenAI for alleged trade secret theft. The rivalry between the two billionaires, who co-founded OpenAI, has intensified as both companies prepare for significant AI model releases and Musk's SpaceX recently completed a major IPO.

  • Elon Musk and Sam Altman have publicly criticized each other on X, reflecting their ongoing rivalry over OpenAI's direction since its founding in 2015.
  • Musk left OpenAI's board in 2018 after contributing millions and has since opposed Altman's for-profit initiatives, leading to a lawsuit that Altman won.
  • SpaceX recently completed a record $75 billion IPO and launched the Grok 4.5 AI model, while OpenAI is preparing to release GPT-5.6 Sol.
  • The dispute escalated after Musk referred to Altman as
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