The partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI is undergoing a major adjustment. OpenAI’s Stargate agreement with other companies marks that Microsoft is no longer its exclusive cloud service provider. Although Microsoft lost its exclusivity, it still retained the right of first refusal for OpenAI's new cloud computing capacity and continued to support OpenAI's product and training needs. This shift stems from OpenAI’s own huge demand for computing resources and the resulting tense relationship with Microsoft. The move also reflects OpenAI's search for broader resources to cope with rapidly developing market needs.
Microsoft confirmed the change in a blog post, saying OpenAI has made a new and important commitment to Azure and will continue to support its products and training needs. At the same time, Microsoft also approved OpenAI’s permission to independently build additional computing capabilities, mainly for model research and training.
This shift stems from the shortage of computing resources faced by OpenAI. The company has previously blamed product launch delays on insufficient computing power, an issue that has reportedly become a source of tension between it and major investor Microsoft. Under pressure from shareholders, Microsoft allowed OpenAI to cooperate with Oracle in June this year to increase computing resources.
Nonetheless, Microsoft emphasized that the core partnership between the two parties will last until 2030, including access to OpenAI intellectual property, revenue sharing arrangements, and exclusivity on the OpenAI API. It is worth noting that this agreement comes with a condition: if OpenAI implements general artificial intelligence (AGI) that can generate $100 billion in profits before then, Microsoft will lose the right to use its technology. According to reports, OpenAI is considering canceling this clause to obtain more financial support from Microsoft.
Microsoft specifically emphasized that the OpenAI API will continue to run exclusively on the Azure platform, and customers can gain access to leading models through the Azure OpenAI service or directly from OpenAI.
All in all, although the cooperation model has changed, the strategic partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI remains solid. The two parties will continue to deepen cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence and jointly promote technological progress. This not only reflects OpenAI's adjustment to its own development strategy, but also reflects the increasingly fierce competition in the cloud computing market.