WSJ: Sam Altman quietly built ties with Trump and outmaneuvered Elon Musk to become his top AI ally.

WSJ: Sam Altman quietly built ties with Trump and outmaneuvered Elon Musk to become his top AI ally.

In a strategic maneuver that has left his rival Elon Musk in the dust, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, has quietly built ties with President Donald Trump, positioning himself as the commander in chief's top AI ally. This shift comes just weeks after Musk's public breakup with Trump, leaving a void that Altman has swiftly filled.

Altman, 40, a prolific startup investor and AI innovator, was once a close ally to Musk, both co-founders of OpenAI. However, their differing opinions on the company's direction led to a falling out in 2018. Musk left the firm's board, but Altman's political leanings have since shifted, with him expressing concerns about the Democrats' economic policies and Biden's stance on AI.

In a move that has outmaneuvered Musk, Altman has been quietly building relationships with Trump since 2024. He began making overtures to Trump's camp, appealing to his appreciation for "winners" in AI. This strategy paid off, with Altman earning an invitation to the Oval Office in January to announce a $500 billion AI project between OpenAI, Oracle, and Japan's SoftBank, known as Stargate.

Musk, who had previously been Trump's top tech advisor, was blindsided by Altman's success. He responded with a series of X posts criticizing the deal, prompting Altman to defend his new alliance. Despite Musk's anger, Trump continued to work with Altman, with the two even planning to team up for the announcement of a massive new data center in Abu Dhabi.

Altman's rising influence is evident in his recent appointment as the keynote speaker at a Federal Reserve conference, where he will address central bankers about AI's impact on the economy. While Altman is not yet ready to call himself a Republican, insiders suggest he could see himself voting red in the next election.

Altman's shift in political leanings has not been without controversy. He once compared Trump to Hitler and wrote that his presidency would be a "disaster for the American economy." However, his views have since evolved, and he now sees Trump as someone who could be "incredible for the country in many ways."

Musk, for his part, has been left on the sidelines, unable to secure meetings with Trump or influence AI policy. His public criticism of the Stargate deal has only served to strengthen Altman's position.

This development has significant implications for the U.S. government's approach to AI, with Altman's influence potentially shaping policy in areas ranging from defense contracts to energy policy.

References:
[1] https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-elon-musks-nemesis-sam-altman-outplayed-him-to-become-tumps-new-top-tech-pal/
[2] https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/sam-altman-donald-trump-musk-ai-198ae5d1