- By Alex David
- Mon, 03 Nov 2025 05:57 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are back in the spotlight due to new accusations and tensions caused by OpenAI’s turbulent 2023 leadership crisis. This latest dispute started on X (formerly Twitter) and was caused by the release of excerpts from Ilya Sutskever’s deposition, which provided more context on the internal battles which preceded Altman’s temporary ousting from the company.
Musk Accuses, Altman Responds
Musk, in a series of posts on X, accused Altman of theft and implied that OpenAI’s current trajectory constitutes a violation of the nonprofit pledge. Musk’s accusations are made in the context of the ongoing litigation he has brought against OpenAI, in which he argues the company has shifted toward commercial interests that benefit Microsoft and its investors.
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Overall, Altman has sought to downplay the hostility, but he did respond to Musk’s statement by accusing him of previously wanting Tesla to acquire OpenAI. In reference to the previously heated exchange, Altman offered the remark, “Can’t we all just move on?” This summary remark, which closed the Twitter thread, is an attempt to refocus and defuse the discourse.
Sutskever’s Deposition Reveals Anthropic Merger Talks
Renewed feuds arise from Sutskever’s October 2025 deposition. The former chief scientist of OpenAI described the chaos behind the scenes in November of 2023. Sutskever states that after Altman’s firing, OpenAI’s board briefly entertained the idea of merging with competitor AI company Anthropic.
Sutskever’s deposition states that on November 18, 2023, the day after Altman and OpenAI President Gerg Brockman were dismissed, board member Helen Toner was in contact with Anthropic. Conversations were held about Anthropic taking over OpenAI’s leadership but the proposal was tabled due to “practical obstacles”.
The 2023 Power Struggle That Shook OpenAI
Sutskever’s deposition describes the unprecedented chaos in OpenAI’s short history. After the board’s decision to sack Altman and withhold company information, immediate chaos ensued. OpenAI’s 770 employees signed a letter threatening to quit and join Microsoft over Altman and Brockman’s reinstatement.
In the span of a week, Microsoft and major company [investors and/or Microsoft major investors] began to compete with Ortiz's pricing, forcing the board to change their decision. On November 22, 2023, Altman and Brockman regained their leadership roles, effectively ending the internal crisis but leaving deeper company fractures.
Musk's lawsuit and Sutskever's revelations indicate the ongoing conflict between the two tech titans and the highly intricate power configurations determining the advancement of AI. It is unclear if this highly public disagreement will impact the subsequent phase of OpenAI.