SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI chief Sam Altman are not known to be the best of friends among the tech tsars of the AI-driven technology world. If anyone had any doubt, it was cleared in the 2024 litigation between the two in California, which resulted in the tacit win of the OpenAI chief.

In addition to legal actions, the two former friends also take digs at each other online. In the most recent showdown, a similar episode of name-calling unfolded.

It started with Elon Musk reposting a post on the platform X. The original post was from an anonymous account, invoking an earlier Musk post, dubbing Altman as ‘Scam Altman’.

He takes scamming to a whole new level https://t.co/o6TMllhIMu

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 11, 2026
Elon Musk, upping the ante, quote-posted, saying, “He takes scamming to a whole new level.”

About six hours later, OpenAI

CEO clapped back at xAI and Tesla boss. In the post quoting Musk. Altman said, “Homeboy you’re the one selling public market investors on short-term space datacenters”

homeboy you’re the one sellling public market investors on short-term space datacenters https://t.co/wTYSA4q3Qx

— Sam Altman (@sama) July 11, 2026
Altman was referring to the IPO and eventual listing of Musk-owned space exploration and AI company, which has been under scrutiny for its sky-high valuation and terms of control that the trillionaire has over the company.

The squabble online did not end there; Musk replied to Altman and said, “We start flying them next year. Maybe you can come see them if your parole officer approves.”

ALSO READ: Apple suit puts fresh spotlight on OpenAI’s history of legal disputes

Musk further added, “After stealing an open-source AI charity, you then stole all of Apple’s phone technology! Wow. What do you plan for an encore? That’s tough to beat.”

OpenAI has also been under pressure recently. Apart from OpenAI’s turbulence in the cut-throat AI race, it has also been hit with legal challenges, with the most recent one coming from Apple. Apple, which once partnered with the maker of ChatGPT, has sued the company over alleged trade secret theft.