'Elon will do the right thing, won't abuse government powers,' says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

Altman addressed concerns that Musk might misuse his proximity to political power to benefit his own businesses or harm competitors, calling such behaviour “profoundly un-American”

Musk’s close alliance with Donald Trump has raised eyebrows since the tycoon actively supported Trump’s presidential campaign, pouring over $100 million into it and appearing at rallies. Since Trump’s election victory, Musk has been a key figure in the transition team. Image Credit: Reuters, Reuters

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared his belief that Elon Musk would act responsibly in his new role leading the Department of Government Efficiency under the incoming Donald Trump administration. Speaking at the New York Times DealBook conference, Altman addressed concerns that Musk might misuse his proximity to political power to benefit his own businesses or harm competitors, calling such behaviour “profoundly un-American.” It should be noted that Vivek Ramaswamy, who will be leading the Department of Government Efficiencies along with Musk, has already threatened to investigate a loan that Tesla rival, Rivian got from the Biden administration.

Altman acknowledged Musk’s flaws but expressed confidence in his integrity, stating it would be against Musk’s core values to leverage government influence unfairly. Despite their current legal disputes and strained relationship, Altman maintained that Musk has a deep respect for fairness and competition.

Musk’s political ties spark concerns

Musk’s close alliance with Donald Trump has raised eyebrows since the tycoon actively supported Trump’s presidential campaign, pouring over $100 million into it and appearing at rallies. Since Trump’s election victory, Musk has been a key figure in the transition team and has been linked to high-profile interactions with tech leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s congratulatory call to the president-elect.

With Musk’s businesses, like Tesla and SpaceX, heavily intertwined with government contracts, his new political position has ignited debates over potential conflicts of interest. Critics worry about the possibility of Musk favouring his ventures while wielding governmental power, though Altman downplayed these fears.

Legal disputes and a fractured relationship

Altman and Musk’s relationship has been complicated by Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging they deviated from OpenAI’s original nonprofit mission. Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI who later left the company, has since launched xAI, a startup reportedly valued at $50 billion. Altman described the lawsuit as “tremendously sad,” reflecting on how he once viewed Musk as a “mega hero.”

Despite their differences, Altman remains optimistic that Musk will prioritise ethical considerations in his new role, highlighting their shared belief in technological progress and fairness.

Shifting perspectives on AI’s future

During the same interview, Altman tempered expectations about artificial general intelligence (AGI), a longstanding goal of OpenAI. While he predicted AGI might arrive sooner than anticipated, he suggested its societal impact might be less dramatic than imagined.

Altman explained that many safety concerns tied to AI development might not materialise at the AGI milestone itself, noting, “AGI can get built. The world goes on mostly the same way.”

Altman’s comments reflect a nuanced view of both AI’s trajectory and his ongoing faith in Musk’s moral compass, even as their paths continue to diverge.