OpenAI Partnership Authorization Revised, Microsoft Cloud No Longer Exclusive
Microsoft and OpenAI have significantly revised their partnership agreement, allowing OpenAI to offer services on cloud platforms other than Microsoft, which is expected to intensify competition in the cloud market.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 10:11
- 🔍 Collected: April 28, 2026 at 10:32 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 14:17 (3h 45m after Collected)
Central News Agency (New York, April 27, comprehensive foreign report) – Microsoft and chatbot developer OpenAI announced today a significant revision to their partnership, allowing OpenAI to provide services on cloud platforms other than Microsoft.
Agence France-Presse reported that in recent months, both companies had been attempting to encroach on each other's territory, leading to signs of tension in their partnership. Now, the two parties have jointly released a revised agreement, readjusting their financial and commercial terms.
The timing of this agreement revision comes as OpenAI is pushing for an initial public offering (IPO), providing potential investors with a clearer understanding of the two companies' long-term financial and cooperative relationship.
Since the partnership began in 2019, Microsoft has invested over US$13 billion in OpenAI, holding approximately 27% of OpenAI's shares, making it the primary funding source and exclusive cloud service provider for the chatbot ChatGPT developer.
Under the new agreement, Microsoft's Azure will remain OpenAI's primary cloud platform, and OpenAI products will continue to be prioritized for launch on Microsoft's cloud, unless Microsoft is unable or chooses not to support the relevant technical requirements.
A critical breakthrough is that OpenAI is now free to offer its products to customers of any cloud service provider, and Microsoft is no longer exclusive.
US media reported that the agreement also stipulates that OpenAI will continue to pay Microsoft 20% of its revenue until 2030, but a new total cap has been set. Microsoft's license for OpenAI's intellectual property will remain until 2032, at which point it will transition from exclusive to non-exclusive licensing, meaning OpenAI can offer services on Microsoft's rival platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud.
In February this year, Amazon and OpenAI announced a major strategic partnership, with Amazon agreeing to invest up to US$50 billion in OpenAI.
OpenAI also stated that it would add US$100 billion over eight years to Amazon AWS's existing US$38 billion agreement. (Compiled by Ji Jinling) 1150428
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Agence France-Presse reported that in recent months, both companies had been attempting to encroach on each other's territory, leading to signs of tension in their partnership. Now, the two parties have jointly released a revised agreement, readjusting their financial and commercial terms.
The timing of this agreement revision comes as OpenAI is pushing for an initial public offering (IPO), providing potential investors with a clearer understanding of the two companies' long-term financial and cooperative relationship.
Since the partnership began in 2019, Microsoft has invested over US$13 billion in OpenAI, holding approximately 27% of OpenAI's shares, making it the primary funding source and exclusive cloud service provider for the chatbot ChatGPT developer.
Under the new agreement, Microsoft's Azure will remain OpenAI's primary cloud platform, and OpenAI products will continue to be prioritized for launch on Microsoft's cloud, unless Microsoft is unable or chooses not to support the relevant technical requirements.
A critical breakthrough is that OpenAI is now free to offer its products to customers of any cloud service provider, and Microsoft is no longer exclusive.
US media reported that the agreement also stipulates that OpenAI will continue to pay Microsoft 20% of its revenue until 2030, but a new total cap has been set. Microsoft's license for OpenAI's intellectual property will remain until 2032, at which point it will transition from exclusive to non-exclusive licensing, meaning OpenAI can offer services on Microsoft's rival platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud.
In February this year, Amazon and OpenAI announced a major strategic partnership, with Amazon agreeing to invest up to US$50 billion in OpenAI.
OpenAI also stated that it would add US$100 billion over eight years to Amazon AWS's existing US$38 billion agreement. (Compiled by Ji Jinling) 1150428
Stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.