Newly unsealed legal documents reveal that Elon Musk reached out to Mark Zuckerberg in early 2025 to explore the possibility of teaming up on his unsolicited bid to acquire the intellectual property of OpenAI, according to court filings made public in March 2026.
The communications form part of broader litigation in which Musk’s companies are challenging OpenAI and its leadership. In February 2025, Musk, along with a coalition of investors including his AI company xAI, submitted an unsolicited offer to buy the AI research organisation for $97.4 billion. The goal, according to filings, was to halt OpenAI’s transition into a for‑profit structure and regain influence over its technological direction.
The court documents include messages exchanged between Musk and Zuckerberg in early February 2025. After initial dialogue on unrelated topics, Musk asked Zuckerberg whether he would consider joining a bid for OpenAI’s intellectual property and suggested discussing the idea live. Zuckerberg responded affirmatively to a follow‑up call, though it is not clear whether the call actually happened. Neither Zuckerberg nor Meta ultimately signed a letter of intent or committed to the bid.
Meta declined to comment on the request when approached by media. OpenAI has sought legal orders requiring Meta to disclose any communications related to the bid, though Meta has resisted, saying it had no involvement in the offer beyond preliminary discussions. The legal battle surrounding the attempted acquisition has highlighted the intense rivalry in the AI sector, particularly between Musk’s companies and OpenAI, headquartered in California.
Musk, who co‑founded OpenAI in 2015 but left its board in 2018, has been vocal about concerns over the organisation’s shift from its original nonprofit mission to a model that includes profit‑making subsidiaries. His bid in 2025 was described in filings as an effort to return the entity to more open research and counter what he views as undue commercial focus. OpenAI rejected the offer and continues its growth toward becoming a larger AI enterprise.
Industry analysts say the episode underscores how high stakes have become in the artificial intelligence field, with tech leaders vying not just for technological achievements but for strategic control over key assets and research. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and related technologies have been central to debates over the future of AI development, safety and governance.
Observers note that the interaction between Musk and Zuckerberg reflected a shift from rivalry toward potential cooperation, at least temporarily. The two executives have a long history of competitive exchanges, including public disagreements on AI and social platforms. That Musk would solicit Zuckerberg’s help on a strategic investment points to how transformative and valuable OpenAI has become in the global tech landscape.
Despite the discussions, the takeover effort did not materialise, and OpenAI continued its independent development. The legal dispute between Musk and the company remains ongoing, with future proceedings expected to examine the broader implications of the attempted acquisition and the communications with external parties.