OpenAI and Microsoft renegotiated their deal for the second time in 6 months. See what's new.

OpenAI has received the go-ahead to collaborate with Amazon and other cloud service providers, albeit with certain conditions. In a recent announcement, OpenAI and Microsoft, its largest stakeholder, revealed significant modifications to their ongoing partnership, just six months after a previous restructuring in October 2025 following OpenAI's corporate overhaul. Under the new agreement, Microsoft will continue to be OpenAI's primary cloud partner. However, OpenAI is now permitted to launch its products on Azure first, unless Microsoft is unable or unwilling to provide the necessary capabilities. In such cases, OpenAI can collaborate with alternative cloud providers, marking a notable shift from their previous exclusive arrangement. This change comes after concerns arose regarding a potential conflict between OpenAI and Amazon Web Services, which had prompted Microsoft to contemplate legal action against a $50 billion deal related to OpenAI's upcoming enterprise offerings, as reported by The Financial Times in March. Additionally, Microsoft's license to OpenAI’s products, previously exclusive until 2032, is now non-exclusive. The newly revised terms also state that Microsoft will not continue to pay a revenue share to OpenAI. However, OpenAI will maintain payments to Microsoft through 2030, though these payments are now capped and are independent of OpenAI's technological advancements. This adjustment alleviates concerns surrounding revenue-sharing agreements that were contingent on OpenAI achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI), a controversial and debated milestone. Microsoft, an early investor in OpenAI, will maintain its equity stake in the company. Analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush expressed optimism about the revised partnership, noting that it clarifies Microsoft's control over OpenAI's intellectual property for the next six years. He highlighted that this shift could pave the way for OpenAI's public offering, as it enhances the company’s position within the cloud landscape while removing previous barriers related to its partnership with Microsoft. In other significant news, jury selection is set to begin in a high-profile trial involving Elon Musk, OpenAI, and CEO Sam Altman. This legal battle stems from Musk's desire to revert OpenAI back to its nonprofit roots, a venture he co-founded with Altman.