Microsoft announced it will no longer share its revenue with OpenAI, marking another step toward loosening one of the most influential partnerships in the AI industry.
The collaboration was originally tightly linked—OpenAI relied on Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure to build ChatGPT, while Microsoft used OpenAI’s models to power products like Copilot. But the relationship is now evolving.
As OpenAI shifts from a nonprofit structure toward a more commercial model and a potential IPO, it has expanded beyond Microsoft, working with other cloud providers like Amazon, Google, and Oracle.
Under the updated terms, OpenAI will continue paying Microsoft a share of its revenue through 2030. Microsoft also remains OpenAI’s primary cloud partner, with OpenAI products launching first on Azure unless Microsoft cannot meet certain technical requirements.
The change signals a more flexible, less exclusive partnership. It also opens the door for broader distribution of OpenAI’s models—Amazon has already indicated plans to offer them through its Bedrock platform.
Analysts say the move benefits both sides: OpenAI gains independence and a clearer path to going public, while Microsoft strengthens its own AI strategy, including developing Copilot further and partnering with alternative AI providers like Anthropic.