Elon Musk challenges AI platforms — Google, OpenAI, and xAI — on who is more trustworthy: Sam Altman or himself.
Published on: August 13, 2025 at 17:12
The tech world is buzzing after Elon Musk reportedly went to Google, OpenAI, and his own AI company, xAI, with a direct and provocative question: “Who is more trustworthy — Sam Altman or Elon Musk?”
Musk vs Altman — A Rivalry Years in the Making
The tension between Elon Musk and Sam Altman is nothing new. Both co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with a vision of open, safe AI for humanity. But disagreements over direction and commercialization led Musk to leave the board in 2018. Since then, Musk has openly criticized OpenAI for becoming, in his view, too profit-driven, while Altman has defended its evolution as necessary for global AI development.
Musk’s creation of xAI in 2023 was widely seen as a direct challenge to OpenAI and Google’s dominance in AI. His recent “trustworthiness” test seems to be the latest chapter in this ongoing feud — but it also opens up bigger questions about the ethics and neutrality of AI systems.
Also Read: Elon Musk Warns ‘OpenAI Will Eat Microsoft Alive’ as GPT-5 Rolls Out Free on ChatGPT & Copilot
The Screenshots That Sparked the Debate
The alleged screenshots, shared on Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) account, show AI-generated answers from Google Bard (now Gemini), OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and xAI’s Grok. While some replies reportedly favored Musk, others leaned towards Altman, and some remained neutral.
This instantly set off waves of online commentary:
-
Supporters of Musk claimed the screenshots prove certain AI models have built-in biases.
-
Defenders of Altman argued that Musk is using the test as a publicity stunt to undermine OpenAI’s credibility.
-
AI ethicists pointed out that the results, verified or not, highlight how AI’s “neutrality” can be shaped by training data, policies, and even prompt design.
Regardless of motive, the screenshots have gone viral — generating millions of views, memes, and debates about who the tech world should trust more.
Why “Trust” in AI Leaders Matters
This isn’t just about personal egos — it’s about public confidence in AI’s future. The people leading AI innovation wield enormous influence over how technology will be built, deployed, and regulated. If the public doubts their intentions or perceives favoritism in AI responses, it could harm adoption and policy-making.
Users need to know not just what AI can do, but whether the leaders behind it act transparently and ethically. Whether Musk’s test was genuine research, a PR move, or both, it has reignited the conversation about bias, accountability, and trust in AI development.
Elon Musk’s public challenge to AI platforms has once again put the spotlight on the rivalry between him and Sam Altman — and, more importantly, on the trustworthiness of AI leadership. As the screenshots continue to circulate, this story serves as a reminder: in the race to build the future, trust is just as critical as technology itself.
About the Author
