{
  "id": 12188064,
  "title": "Sam Altman Says Elon Musk Is a ‘Bully,’ but Would ‘Of Course’ Still Work With Him",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/sam-altman-says-elon-musk-is-a-bully-but-would-of-course-still-work",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-05T16:14:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/industry-news/tech/sam-altman-elon-musk-bully-ai-working-relationship/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, described co-founder Elon Musk as a \"bully\" in a recent interview with Vanity Fair, yet declared he would \"of course\" continue collaborating with Musk. During the extensive discussion, Altman emphasized the importance of AI firms working together to develop artificial intelligence technology responsibly, alongside government and public officials. Altman believes companies like OpenAI have a \"window\" right now to unite, stating, \"My statements on this I think have been unbelievably consistent over the last decade.\" When pointed out that his public disagreements with Musk seem to contradict the industry's desire for collaboration, Altman retorted, \"Who do you think has been nicer to each other in that relationship? I won't call myself a saint. But I'm not sure if I'm the one that you're supposed to come after between Elon and me.\" He explained, \"I don't like bullies, and I think Elon’s a bully. And so I think once in a while you got to punch a bully back in the nose. And I also think Elon, like many bullies, only respects people who do. So if you want me to be able to work with him, maybe you should be happy I hit back once in a while, but I will work with Elon, of course.\" Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015, initially serving as co-chair with Altman, before resigning from the Board of Directors in 2018 due to potential conflicts between his OpenAI duties and Tesla's AI advancements. In 2024, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Altman, alleging a shift in OpenAI's focus from public benefit to profit optimization. OpenAI countersued Musk, accusing him of engaging in \"bad-faith tactics\" to tarnish the company's public image and hinder its growth. Musk amended his lawsuit in April, demanding OpenAI revert from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, but was ruled against by a federal jury in May. Throughout the Vanity Fair interview, Altman reiterated his eagerness to work with Musk, emphasizing, \"We feel the weight of this.\"",
  "summary": "\"I think once in a while you got to punch a bully back in the nose,\" the OpenAI CEO adds The post Sam Altman Says Elon Musk Is a ‘Bully,’ but Would ‘Of Course’ Still Work With Him appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}