In a surprise move, a team of investors led by Elon Musk has submitted a staggering $97.6 billion bid to acquire OpenAI, the company behind the popular ChatGPT language model. The unsolicited offer, confirmed by Musk's lawyer Marc Toberoff, is the latest development in the ongoing feud between Musk and OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman.

The bid comes as Altman is seeking to take OpenAI private, a move that has sparked controversy and opposition from Musk. The Tesla CEO has been embroiled in a legal dispute with OpenAI, filing a 2024 injunction against its bid to transition away from nonprofit status. Musk's team is positioning the acquisition as a means to restore OpenAI's initial open source focus, which they claim has been lost in recent years.

"It's time for OpenAI to return to the open source, safety-focused force for good it once was," Musk told The Wall Street Journal through his lawyer. "We will make sure that happens." The involvement of Musk's own AI firm, xAI, in the bid has sparked speculation that a successful acquisition could lead to a merger between the two companies.

Altman responded to the offer in a characteristically cheeky manner, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that OpenAI would be willing to buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if Musk is interested. The jab is a reference to Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022.

The rivalry between Musk and Altman has been escalating in recent months, with both sides trading barbs and accusations. The dispute has raised questions about the future of AI development and the role of OpenAI in the industry. Musk's bid to acquire OpenAI has significant implications for the direction of AI research and development, and could potentially reshape the landscape of the industry.

Industry analysts are watching the situation closely, with some speculating that a successful acquisition could lead to a consolidation of AI talent and resources under Musk's umbrella. Others have expressed concerns about the potential consequences of a single entity controlling such a significant portion of AI research and development.

As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the battle for the future of OpenAI and AI development is far from over. With Musk's $97.6 billion bid on the table, the stakes have never been higher. Will Altman and OpenAI accept the offer, or will they find a way to maintain their independence? Only time will tell.