OpenAI CEO Sam Altman struggles to meet Donald Trump¡ªall thanks to Elon Musk
Elon Musk has become a key gatekeeper for those seeking to meet President-elect Donald Trump, as per a Wall Street Journal report, creating challenges for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who is finding it difficult to arrange a meeting with the President-elect.
Those business leaders wanting to meet the next U.S. President, Donald Trump, for a high-stakes business discussion will need to get past Elon Musk first. According to The Wall Street Journal, Musk has become a key power player in Trump¡¯s transition team, acting as a gatekeeper for anyone seeking the president-elect¡¯s ear. Among those struggling to gain access is OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose rocky history with the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is making it even tougher to secure a meeting.
According to the report, Sam Altman has been leveraging his network to gain access to Trump¡¯s inner circle, reaching out through mutual contacts like Jared Kushner, Trump¡¯s son-in-law, and Josh Kushner, a significant OpenAI investor.
However, these attempts have faced roadblocks, as some intermediaries are reluctant to forward his requests, wary of Musk¡¯s disapproval.
In a bid to sidestep Musk¡¯s influence, Altman even sought a meeting with Howard Lutnick, a trusted advisor to the incoming administration and a Musk ally.
During their conversation, Altman pitched OpenAI¡¯s ambitious plans for U.S. investment, including building data centers and creating jobs.
Meanwhile, other tech giants Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple¡¯s Tim Cook, and Meta¡¯s Mark Zuckerberg appear to have had more success securing face time with Trump.
What¡¯s the tension between Musk and Altman all about?
¡ª Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 15, 2024
At its core, it¡¯s a clash of philosophies on AI¡¯s future.
Musk advocates for stringent regulation and centralised oversight, warning that artificial intelligence is too dangerous to leave unchecked.
¡°The risk of AGI going rogue is real. We need guardrails, and we need them now,¡± he had said.
Altman, however, champions the idea that innovation and safety can go hand in hand, arguing that making AI tools widely accessible is the best way to prevent misuse.
¡°Hitting pause on AI development won¡¯t protect us. It¡¯ll only give bad actors a head start. The solution lies in moving forward, but doing so responsibly,¡± he argues.
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Srishti B Dutta brings you everything from rags-to-riches tales and inspiring student success stories to those "No way, this can't be real!" moments. Whether it's intriguing, heartwarming, or just plain quirky, she's got it covered.
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