In early 2025, Mark Zuckerberg texted Elon Musk offering to help with DOGE and signaling that Zuckerberg’s teams were prepared to intervene if Musk faced doxxing or threats.

The two tech leaders discussed the possibility of collaborating on an OpenAI bid, with Musk indicating continued interest in pursuing the conversation.

A court filing suggests a thaw in the Musk–Zuckerberg dynamic, with Zuckerberg offering support for Musk’s DOGE initiative and exploring a joint bid for OpenAI.

The reporting ties the private exchanges to ongoing litigation over OpenAI, highlighting a shift from public feuds to private negotiations surrounding IP and governance.

Analysts warn the development could reshape AI investment, with Goldman Sachs predicting a 25% jump in AI M&A in 2026 and implications for compute costs and startup competition depending on whether a bid succeeds.

The thaw could influence federal policy on AI, content moderation, and infrastructure, drawing scrutiny over conflicts of interest and governance.

Musk had previously sued OpenAI and Sam Altman in 2024, with damages sought growing to roughly $134 billion in the latest filing.

OpenAI’s board rejected Musk’s bid, viewing it as a challenge to their growth, while subpoenas probe possible collaboration between Meta and xAI.

The competitive landscape remains intense among Meta, OpenAI, and xAI, with Meta courting talent and investing in Scale AI, while OpenAI maintains independence amid major partnerships like Microsoft.

The February 2025 texts surfaced amid Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI, illustrating strategic alliances in a tense governance and AI-development environment, with prior public rivalries noted.

OpenAI’s October 2025 transition to a for-profit structure, while preserving nonprofit elements, has been a point of contention in Musk–Altman disputes.

The article anchors its claims with specific dates and outlets, including February 3, 2025, and reporting from TechCrunch and others.