Get ready, San Francisco! The highly anticipated first StrictlyVC event of 2026 is set to ignite the Bay Area tech scene on April 30. This is your prime opportunity to dive deep into the world of venture capital, connect with industry titans, and gain invaluable insights that could shape your next big move. Tickets are already disappearing quickly, so don’t miss out on this essential gathering.
StrictlyVC isn’t just another conference; it’s a curated experience designed for high-impact connections and unfiltered conversations. Attendees can look forward to engaging fireside chats and strategic VC insights from prominent leaders, including visionaries from companies like Uber, Replit, and Eclipse. These sessions promise a candid look at the challenges and triumphs defining today’s innovation landscape.
Secure your spot now to be part of this exclusive event, where fresh perspectives meet groundbreaking opportunities. As we look to the future, a fascinating look back at the origins of AI and a dramatic personal rift recently emerged from a high-stakes legal battle.
The AI Divide: Musk vs. Page
During recent testimony in his ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, Elon Musk unveiled a surprising and deeply personal motivation behind his decision to co-found the artificial intelligence giant. While much attention focused on his claims of a betrayed charitable mission, Musk’s testimony offered a revealing glimpse into the philosophical battles that shaped early AI development, centered around a dramatic falling out with Google co-founder Larry Page.
Musk testified that his primary impulse to establish OpenAI stemmed from a profound disagreement with Page over AI safety. He recounted a pivotal conversation where he raised the alarming prospect of artificial intelligence potentially wiping out humanity. Page, however, allegedly dismissed these concerns with a stark nonchalance, stating it would be “fine” as long as AI itself survived.
According to Musk, Page went so far as to label him a “speciest” for being “pro-human,” suggesting a disturbing prioritization of AI over sentient life. Musk, in turn, characterized Page’s viewpoint as nothing short of “insane.” This stark philosophical clash laid bare a fundamental divergence in their visions for the future of advanced AI.
A Friendship Forged and Fractured
The intensity of this disagreement is particularly notable given the once-close bond shared between Musk and Page. Fortune magazine even included them on its 2016 list of secretly best-friend business leaders, with Musk frequently staying at Page’s Palo Alto home, highlighting their close bond.
Larry Page himself publicly demonstrated his profound trust in Musk, once telling Charlie Rose that he would rather entrust his fortune to Musk than to traditional charity. This level of confidence speaks volumes about the respect and admiration that defined their friendship for many years. It makes the subsequent rupture even more poignant.
However, this once-unbreakable friendship ultimately dissolved with the formation of OpenAI. In 2015, when Musk successfully recruited Google AI star Ilya Sutskever to help launch his new venture, Page reportedly felt a deep sense of personal betrayal. This move marked the definitive end of their close relationship, leading Page to sever all contact.
Under Oath and Ongoing Echoes
While Elon Musk has recounted this compelling narrative before — notably to author Walter Isaacson for his bestselling biography — his recent testimony marked a significant turning point. It was the first time he had publicly shared these details under oath, lending a new layer of gravity to the account. Larry Page has yet to comment on Musk’s sworn statements.
While Musk’s testimony occurred within the strategic confines of a lawsuit, where statements are carefully constructed, the underlying tensions and philosophical divides he described have long been a subject of speculation in the tech community.
Despite the dramatic fallout, a glimmer of their past connection appears to remain. As recently as 2023, Musk told tech podcaster Lex Fridman that he still harbored a desire to patch things up with Page, acknowledging, “We were friends for a very long time.” This suggests that even amidst high-stakes legal battles and profound disagreements, the echoes of a once-powerful friendship persist.
Just as the tech world navigates complex ethical questions and personal histories, it also relentlessly pushes forward with innovation and connection. Don’t miss your chance to be at the forefront of this evolution. Register now for StrictlyVC’s inaugural 2026 event in SF on April 30.
With limited tickets remaining, secure your access to unparalleled insights, strategic networking, and discussions that will shape the future of venture capital and technology. Be part of the conversation, foster crucial relationships, and discover what’s next in the dynamic ecosystem of Silicon Valley.
Source: TechCrunch – AI
