Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Open AI CEO Sam Altman are locked in a heated public feud on X over Stargate, an ambitious project to build AI data centers across the U.S.
OpenAI on Tuesday announced it would partner with SoftBank and Oracle to develop the data centers, with an initial $100 billion commitment and plans to invest up to $500 billion over the next four years.
Musk, who is also the owner of AI firm xAI, wasted no time criticizing the venture.
In a series of posts on X, the social media platform he owns (formerly Twitter), Musk claimed that SoftBank had secured “well under $10 billion” for Stargate, casting doubt on the project’s financial backing.
“They don’t actually have the money,” Musk wrote. He further escalated the attack by calling Altman a “swindler,” a remark that fueled the already tense rivalry.
Altman swiftly fired back, accusing Musk of spreading false information. “Wrong, as you surely know,” Altman wrote in a post, defending the project’s legitimacy and its benefits for the U.S. economy.
He also indirectly addressed Musk’s competing interests, stating, “I realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role, I hope you’ll mostly put [U.S.] first.”
Musk was recently appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a commission tasked with modernizing federal systems to enhance efficiency and productivity across government operations.
In a separate post, Altman struck a more conciliatory tone, acknowledging Musk’s influence while also criticizing his approach. “I genuinely respect your accomplishments and think you are the most inspiring entrepreneur of our time,” he said.
However, he added, “I don’t think [Musk is] a nice person or treating us fairly, but you have to respect the guy, and he pushes all of us to be more ambitious.”
The ongoing dispute highlights the fierce competition between Musk’s xAI and Altman’s OpenAI. Musk’s company has invested billions into its own AI infrastructure, including a $12 billion data center in Memphis, adding fuel to the rivalry between the two AI firms.