'ChatGPT Father' Altman, Who Became Musk's Rival from "Musk is a Dumbass" Comrade [Musk X Trump]

⑥'Trump's Closest Ally' Musk Likely to Influence AI Policy
OpenAI CEO Altman and Musk Are Rivals...Lawsuit Ongoing

Regulation or Relaxation...AI Regulatory Policy at a Crossroads
Private Investment Expected to Be Emphasized Considering Operating AI Companies

"I have thought a lot about whether humanity can stop the development of artificial intelligence (AI). If it is going to happen anyway, it would be better if someone other than Google does it first."

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, received an email in 2015. It was sent by Sam Altman, then president of Silicon Valley accelerator Y Combinator, who later became known as the 'father of ChatGPT,' as he was preparing to found OpenAI. At a time when Google’s acquisition of AI company DeepMind in 2014 had raised concerns that it would monopolize the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) technology with human-like intelligence, the two men, feeling uneasy, decided to collaborate. They established a nonprofit organization with the goal of "democratizing the benefits of advanced AI" and included the word "Open" in the company name to emphasize transparency. This company was OpenAI.

Elon Musk, Tesla CEO (right in the photo), and Donald Trump, President-elect of the United States Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

However, nine years later, this year, Musk filed lawsuits against Altman, CEO of OpenAI, three times?in February, August, and November. Musk claimed that OpenAI and Microsoft (MS) were effectively merging and "monopolizing the market." The two men clashed during their collaboration in OpenAI’s growth process and have now completely parted ways.

The reunion of these two prominent 'archrivals' in the AI industry has attracted global attention. This is because Musk, nominated as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is expected to wield significant influence over future U.S. government AI policies. Altman, as CEO of OpenAI, a leader in generative AI technology, and Musk, the world’s richest person and a key figure in the second Trump administration, are likely to clash once again.

Their conflict and Musk’s potential involvement in AI policy as a businessperson running xAI could become variables that bring changes to the AI policy direction of the second Trump administration.

Variable ① "De facto merger" - Lawsuit refiled after Trump’s election

The global generative AI market is currently led by private companies. Companies focus on developing AI technology by investing large amounts of capital, while governments impose regulations under the pretext of "safety measures." In November 2022, ChatGPT’s explosive popularity established OpenAI and its partner Microsoft as leaders in the AI market. Other major U.S. tech companies like Google have also entered the competition as challengers.

The lawsuits Musk filed against Altman and others stem from this background. In the first lawsuit filed in February, Musk claimed that when OpenAI was founded in 2015, Altman and other founders promised to develop AI technology as a nonprofit for the benefit of humanity, but later violated the contract by pursuing profit. Musk alleged that Altman deceived him after he donated over $40 million (approximately 55.7 billion KRW) based on that promise. OpenAI responded by recalling Musk’s repeated filing and withdrawal of lawsuits within less than a year, stating, "Musk is trying to reconstruct his claims, but there is no basis for them."

Musk’s repeated lawsuits are interpreted as attempts to shake the dominance of OpenAI, which monopolizes the market. The fact that he refiled the lawsuit after Trump’s election, following filings in February and August, suggests that Musk may try to reorganize the market backed by 'Trump power.' The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) noted that Musk’s escalation of legal battles against OpenAI and Microsoft, while rising as a close aide to President-elect Trump, is noteworthy. Sarah Krebs, director of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute, told Yahoo Finance in an interview, "Musk’s role and influence in the second Trump administration will make this lawsuit considerably complex."

Variable ② Trump and Republicans "Want to loosen regulations"… Musk emphasizes safety

The AI industry is also paying close attention to what kind of AI regulatory policy direction Musk’s actions will take in the Trump 2.0 era. So far, government-level AI regulations have emerged as responses to various harms occurring during the private sector’s focus on technology development. The Biden administration issued an executive order last October to establish agencies for testing and evaluating AI models before release and set security and privacy guidelines. In August this year, although a bill strengthening pre- and post-regulation of AI companies was vetoed by the California governor, it had passed the state legislature.

Musk is one of the prominent AI regulation advocates who argue that some regulations on AI use are necessary. In March last year, amid the ChatGPT craze, he co-signed a joint letter with over 1,000 global figures including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and bestselling author Yuval Harari, professor at Hebrew University, calling for a six-month pause on AI development to consider its risks. He also recently expressed support for the bill proposed in California.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The problem is that Trump and the Republican Party’s stance differs from Musk’s. During his presidential campaign, Trump expressed his intention to repeal Biden administration’s AI executive order upon taking office, arguing that the measure hinders innovation and obstructs the U.S. from solidifying its dominance in the AI market. Republicans and Trump supporters have also voiced that various AI regulations should be removed. Gregory Allen, director of the AI Center at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told Bloomberg News, "In some right-wing policy groups, safety and censorship are considered synonymous."

Andrew Strait of the Ada Lovelace Institute, a private research organization studying responsible AI use, told CNN, "It is still too early to be sure whether the Trump administration will strengthen or withdraw regulations," adding that Trump’s future AI regulatory direction might reflect Musk’s concerns about AI risks.

Variable ③ Musk is also a businessperson running xAI

However, since Musk, who emphasizes AI risks, also runs the AI company xAI, it cannot be ruled out that his views on AI regulation may change in the future. Musk has shown a strong tendency to avoid laws and regulations while running multiple companies such as Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter). Considering these traits, it is unlikely that he will argue for completely blocking AI technology development in the second Trump administration. The prevailing view is that he will support some regulations to prevent harms caused by AI but emphasize the need for private investment.

Reuters Yonhap News

From the perspective of the second Trump administration, it is not easy to create policies that unconditionally regulate big tech companies like OpenAI and Microsoft, leaders in AI. Moreover, Trump prioritizes AI technology as a national security issue.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Trump is considering appointing a federal official responsible for coordinating AI federal policies and government use at the White House. The U.S. internet media Axios reported that Trump is considering appointing an 'AI czar' (an unofficial title for a senior government official in the U.S.), and although Musk will not occupy the position, he could have significant influence over the appointment.

Foreign media have suggested that Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who has been skeptical of AI regulation, might lead AI policy. He has criticized Biden-style executive orders for strengthening the industrial dominance of large AI companies and suppressing small startups. Axios forecasted, "Musk has contradictory personas regarding AI regulation, and it is unclear which direction he will whisper into Trump’s ear. This will become a realistic dilemma after the inauguration on January 20 next year."