OpenAI is in the middle of a chaotic acquisition and investment drama right now, with Elon Musk and OpenAI head honcho Sam Altman taking pot shots at each other on social media. But in the middle of all this, there appears to be an infamous name who has dropped his hat in the ring as a potential buyer for the company.
Sukesh Chandrashekar, the conman currently in judicial custody for alleged multi-crore fraud, has proposed a $1 billion investment plan to Altman, OpenAI’s CEO on Feb. 7.
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In a letter addressed to Altman, Chandrashekar said, “As you and your company is now working towards becoming a part of India’s National AI Agenda, I want to play a small role by making an investment in Open AI of 1 Billion USD, immediately, and further extend it to another 2 Billion USD over the next five years for your Indian operations.”
Chandrashekar gained notoriety for allegedly extorting approximately $27 million from Aditi Singh, the wife of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Singh, by posing as government officials offering to secure her husband’s release from prison.
Chandrashekar has also been accused of running a multi-crore cheating racket from within Delhi’s Tihar Jail, where he purportedly used sophisticated technology to impersonate officials and businessmen. His criminal activities reportedly span over a decade, involving various scams and fraudulent schemes across India.
“Sam why go to Venture capital Investors, why should the Big Boys always have the fun, Sam please just take my money,” Chandrashekar added in his “letter of intent,” sent through the legal firm Anantam Legal.
It is unclear whether Chandrashekhar wrote the letter in jest or if he was serious. Considering how he is currently in prison for several cases of fraud, his intention towards purchasing the AI company is unknown and with what actual funds begs the question.
Sam Altman, Elon Musk and OpenAI
Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and OpenAI have a complex history of collaboration and tension. OpenAI was founded in December 2015 by a group of tech leaders, including Musk and Altman, with the goal of developing artificial intelligence (AI) in a safe and beneficial way for humanity.
Initially, OpenAI was structured as a non-profit organization, and both Musk and Altman were instrumental in its early direction, with Altman serving as the CEO from 2019.
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Musk, however, distanced himself from OpenAI in 2018 due to concerns over its direction and the transition to a “capped-profit” model. Musk’s departure was partly driven by differences in how OpenAI should approach its work—he preferred a more cautious and open approach, while Altman and others leaned towards rapid development and commercialization of AI technologies. Musk also expressed concerns about the concentration of AI power in large corporations.
Despite Musk stepping down from the board in 2018, he remained a donor and occasional critic of OpenAI’s practices. In recent years, Musk’s stance on AI has been cautious, warning about its potential dangers, while Altman has advocated for AI’s ability to positively transform industries.
The dynamic between Musk and Altman remains notable, as both are influential figures in the tech world but have diverging views on the future of AI.