In a joint statement, the two companies said they are working to finalize the contractual terms, reaffirming their shared commitment to developing leading AI tools that focus on safety and serve users worldwide.
It is worth noting that Microsoft has invested $13 billion in OpenAI since 2019 and shares in the revenues of ChatGPT and its APIs. Despite this close partnership, Microsoft has increasingly relied on its own models, while leaving OpenAI free to use other cloud providers, such as Oracle, with which it recently signed a historic $300 billion deal.
In an internal meeting on Thursday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, along with Mustafa Suleyman, head of AI, confirmed the company’s intention to make “significant investments” in developing independent models.
Suleyman said: “We must have the capability to build world-class advanced models within the company, but we should also be pragmatic and use other models when needed.”
Meanwhile, OpenAI clarified in a separate statement that its nonprofit parent will continue to exercise authority over the for-profit entity, with a stake valued at more than $100 billion.
The restructuring plans have faced opposition from charities and nonprofit organizations, and the company is under investigation on this matter.