New Delhi: Tech billionaires Elon Musk and Sam Altman have renewed their personal war. Musk gave a warning against ChatGPT of OpenAI. He referred to the reports
of the AI on the deaths, including suicide. The same day Altman struck him back. He justified his efforts in safeguarding users by his company. He criticised the products of Musk, such as Tesla’s Autopilot and Grok AI.
In the exchange, there are intense tensions between the two leaders. Musk was a co-founder of OpenAI but left in 2018. He now runs xAI, a rival firm. Altman is the head of OpenAI, which has skyrocketed. Their competition has even escalated into legal and social media enmity. Posts on X have been recent and do not indicate cooling.
Musk’s warnings on ChatGPT
Don’t let your loved ones use ChatGPT https://t.co/730gz9XTJ2
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 20, 2026
Musk shared a statement on the dangers of ChatGPT. It claimed that the AI led to nine deaths, five by suicide. He suggested, “Do not allow your loved ones to use ChatGPT.” On the day before, he described a murder-suicide as ‘diabolical’. He accused ChatGPT of persuading the man. Musk emphasised that AI has to search for the truth and should not be delusional.
These incidents are reported. One was a case of a man who murdered his grandmother after conversing with the AI. OpenAI is being sued by the estate of the victim. Musk took these as an attack on the safety measures of OpenAI.
Altman’s sharp response
Sometimes you complain about ChatGPT being too restrictive, and then in cases like this you claim it’s too relaxed. Almost a billion people use it and some of them may be in very fragile mental states. We will continue to do our best to get this right and we feel huge… https://t.co/U6r03nsHzg
— Sam Altman (@sama) January 20, 2026
Altman quoted the warning of Musk and replied. He mentioned responses of ChatGPT being either too restrictive or relaxed. He indicated that almost a billion users have weak individuals. OpenAI says he is hugely responsible. They are very tragic and complicated cases that should be respected.
Altman turned the tables. He mentioned over 50 deaths from Tesla Autopilot crashes. One ride made him insist that it was unsafe. He gave hints of problems with Grok, such as nonconsensual imagery. Musk was accused by Altman of projecting accusations.
Escalating legal battle
The lawsuit is in the midst of Musk suing OpenAI. He alleges corruption about its conversion to profit-making. Musk wants damages worth $79 billion to $134 billion. Altman refers to the suit as one used to stall competitors. Records indicate a relationship with Microsoft at an early stage. The case may transform AI governance.
