The Strategist

Microsoft loses exclusive right to sell OpenAI models



04/28/2026 - 02:56



Bloomberg reports that Microsoft has forfeited its exclusive right to market artificial intelligence (AI) models created by OpenAI. The firms revealed a renegotiation of their contract, allowing ChatGPT, the creator of OpenAI, to form partnerships with Microsoft's rivals such as Amazon.



Mike Mozart via flickr
Mike Mozart via flickr
Microsoft continues to be OpenAI's main cloud collaborator, with OpenAI products mainly being provided on Azure, Microsoft's cloud service. Microsoft will keep a license for OpenAI's intellectual property connected to its models and products until 2032. Nonetheless, the license will become non-exclusive as OpenAI will have the ability to offer its products to clients of any cloud service provider.

In return for ending its exclusivity, Microsoft will cease sharing a portion of revenue from its products sold on its cloud with ChatGPT. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft will obtain a portion of OpenAI's earnings until 2030, irrespective of the startup's advancements in achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) that can rival human abilities across different activities. The prior agreement stated that revenue share payments to OpenAI would stop if the company achieved this milestone.

The updated agreement aims to clarify the intricate connections that supported OpenAI's growth and the wider AI surge. OpenAI has subsequently formed partnerships with various cloud services, such as Amazon, to satisfy its increasing computing requirements.

source: bloomberg.com