Did Elon Musk Just Expose Sam Altman's Tesla Waiting Game?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Elon Musk and Sam Altman are engaged in a public dispute over a delayed Tesla order.
- Altman claims he has waited over seven years for a vehicle he paid for.
- Musk disputes Altman's account, asserting the matter was resolved.
- The Tesla Roadster remains in development with no clear launch date.
- This feud highlights ongoing tensions between tech industry leaders.
New Delhi, Nov 2 (NationPress) Tesla's CEO Elon Musk has responded to Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, after Altman stated he has been waiting over seven years for a Tesla vehicle he ordered.
Musk accused Altman of omitting essential details, asserting that the matter had been addressed and a refund was issued within 24 hours.
The ongoing rivalry between Musk and Altman reignited after Altman claimed he has been waiting for a Tesla car he reserved in July 2018, which he has yet to receive.
According to Altman, he paid a pre-reservation fee of $45,000 for the vehicle, yet despite numerous inquiries, he has neither received the car nor a refund.
On social media platform X, Altman posted screenshots of his email communications with Tesla, which included the booking confirmation, a refund request, and an error message indicating his email bounced back with “Address not found.”
Describing it as “a tale in three acts,” Altman remarked, “I was genuinely excited for the car! While I understand delays, waiting 7.5 years feels excessive.”
In a swift response, Musk took to X, stating that Altman had neglected to mention “act 4, where this issue was resolved and you received a refund within 24 hours. But that seems to be your nature.”
Musk further criticized Altman in a subsequent post, saying, “You have stolen a non-profit,” referencing OpenAI's transition from a non-profit to a for-profit entity, a move Musk has openly condemned before.
The Tesla Roadster, which Altman is thought to have reserved, was initially revealed in 2017 as “the fastest production car ever made.”
However, the car's launch has faced multiple delays and is still in the design development phase, according to Tesla's most recent financial disclosures.