Becoming Trump's AI ally: How Altman outsmarted Musk

Sam Altman and Elon Musk were partners in artificial intelligence (AI) (co-founded OpenAI), but later parted ways due to ideological differences. Today, Altman has become a leader in the field of AI through products such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, while Musk competes with him through xAI (such as Grok).

How did Altman "outsmart" Musk and become Trump's AI ally?

More flexible political stance, catering to conservative needs

Although Musk calls himself a "free speech absolutist", his political stance is wavering. He once supported Biden, then turned to criticize the Democratic Party and gradually approached Trump. However, his controversial remarks (such as immigration, Ukraine and other issues) have made some conservatives skeptical.

Altman is more low-key and pragmatic. He recently met with Trump to discuss the application of AI in government, military and business, catering to Trump's "America First" technology strategy.

OpenAI is more successful in commercialization and has great potential for government cooperation

OpenAI's ChatGPT has become the world's most well-known AI product, and the US government (including the military and intelligence agencies) has a strong interest in its technology. Altman actively promotes cooperation with the government, which is in line with Trump's claim that "AI is used for national security."

Although Musk's xAI (Grok) also targets the conservative market, its influence is still not as good as OpenAI, and Musk himself is distracted by Tesla, SpaceX and other businesses, and his focus in the field of AI is not as good as Altman's.

Avoid Musk's "personal brand burden"

Musk's personal image is very controversial, and his Twitter remarks often trigger polarized reactions, while the Trump team may prefer to cooperate with more stable and controllable technology leaders.

Altman keeps a relatively low profile, focusing on AI policy lobbying, and is more easily accepted by political elites.

Future impact

If Trump wins the election in 2024, Altman and OpenAI may play a key role in US AI policy (such as regulation, military AI applications, and countering China's AI development), while Musk may provide support more as a "peripheral ally". Altman currently has the upper hand in this AI political game.