Musk Sought Zuckerberg’s Involvement in OpenAI Takeover Bid Amid Rivalry

Elon Musk attempted to recruit Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for a $97.4 billion takeover bid of OpenAI earlier this year, according to court filings. The proposal, made in February as part of Musk's legal battle with the AI firm he co-founded, sought funding or investment ideas from Zuckerberg—though no formal agreement materialized.

Meta has denied any collaboration on the offer, and neither company provided further comment. The potential alliance WOULD have marked a stark departure from the longstanding rivalry between the two tech titans, who have publicly clashed over AI's trajectory and even entertained the idea of a physical confrontation.

Musk's rift with OpenAI dates to 2018, culminating in his launch of xAI and a lawsuit accusing the organization of abandoning its nonprofit mission. The latest maneuver underscores Silicon Valley's intensifying power struggles in the AI arena.