Earlier this week, throughout an interview with CNBC, Twitter chief Elon Musk mentioned his propensity to tweet controversial and even, at occasions, unfaithful issues, noting that:
“I’ll say what I would like, and if the consequence of that’s dropping cash, so be it.”
This has been a standard chorus for Musk. Regardless of paying $44 billion for Twitter, he’s not actually concerned about the financial aspect, and he received’t enable this component to affect his decision-making on the app.
Which, in some methods, is an admirable stance, underlining his said dedication to free speech, and permitting folks to say what they like within the app. However however, Musk has fairness companions and traders who could also be much less impressed with this method.
This was highlighted once more as we speak when Twitter sent a letter to Microsoft, accusing the corporate of misusing Twitter’s information to coach its synthetic intelligence applied sciences.
As per The New York Times:
“Within the letter, which was reviewed by The New York Occasions, Twitter stated Microsoft had violated an settlement over its information and had declined to pay for that utilization. In some circumstances, the letter stated, Microsoft had used extra Twitter information than it was alleged to. Microsoft additionally shared the Twitter information with authorities companies with out permission, the letter stated.”
The letter is the newest in Musk’s quest for retaliation in opposition to OpenAI, the corporate behind ChatGPT, and numerous different generative AI instruments.
Musk, who was an early investor in OpenAI, has repeatedly expressed his annoyance that his early $100 million ‘donation’ to the corporate has been used to remodel it right into a $29 billion business. And with Microsoft taking a large stake in OpenAI, it too now stands to profit – and as such, Musk now needs to claw again his share of that income consumption.
With this in thoughts, Musk has already restricted OpenAI’s access to Twitter data, which has been used to gasoline its generative AI fashions, whereas additionally rising how a lot it prices for all corporations to entry the identical. This newest push stems from Musk’s view that OpenAI benefited from Twitter information, which, once more, he sees as successfully stealing from him personally.
They educated illegally utilizing Twitter information. Lawsuit time.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2023
Musk’s public battle in opposition to OpenAI and Microsoft has already seen Microsoft remove Twitter from its Digital Marketing Center element, which is able to remove the promotion of Twitter adverts to Microsoft companions. It’s laborious to say what sort of affect that’ll have on Twitter’s backside line. However with Twitter’s advert income – it’s main supply of revenue – already down by 50% since Musk took over, an additional decline of any sort may very well be thought of important.
However as Musk says, the cash shouldn’t be his main concern. And whereas a public battle with a big advert associate shouldn’t be a terrific look, Elon, as he’s proven, goes to do what he likes, whatever the penalties.
That features making choices based mostly on private grudges, which may affect all of Twitter’s companions.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how this method modifications, or not, below incoming Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino, an advert business veteran, who’ll be tasked with reigniting its enterprise relationships.
Will that see Twitter re-evaluate its method, or will Musk proceed to override Yaccarino in circumstances the place he has a private stake?
