In a surprise move, a group of investors led by Elon Musk has launched a hostile takeover bid for OpenAI, offering a staggering $97.4 billion to acquire the artificial intelligence research organization's assets. The bid, announced on Monday, has sparked a fiery response from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has rejected the offer outright.

The investor consortium, which includes several firms with ties to Musk, has stated that it is "prepared to consider matching or exceeding higher bids" for OpenAI's assets. However, Altman was quick to dismiss the offer, jokingly suggesting that OpenAI would instead consider buying Twitter for $9.74 billion.

The consortium behind the bid includes several notable firms, many of which have existing ties to Musk. Baron Capital Group, Valor Management, Atreides Management, Vy Capital, Emanuel Capital Management, and Eight Partners VC are all part of the group. Several of these firms have invested in Musk's other ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company.

While the bid has sparked controversy, it's unclear how serious the consortium is about acquiring OpenAI. Some analysts have suggested that the move may be a tactical play by Musk to drive up the price of OpenAI's assets, which could ultimately benefit Altman's team as they seek to restructure the organization from its original non-profit status.

Musk has a history with OpenAI, having been part of the organization's founding as a non-profit AI research entity. However, he has since sought to halt Altman's restructuring plans, which may have motivated the takeover bid. The move has sparked debate about the future of OpenAI and the potential implications of a Musk-led takeover.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the consortium's bid will be taken seriously or if it's simply a negotiating tactic. One thing is clear, however: the battle for control of OpenAI has only just begun, and the tech world will be watching closely to see how it plays out.

In the meantime, the AI research community will be holding its breath, waiting to see what the future holds for OpenAI and its mission to develop and apply AI technologies for the greater good.