Microsoft and OpenAI have signed a new agreement that expands their partnership, first established in 2019, to support responsible AI development and long-term collaboration. The agreement follows OpenAI’s recapitalization and formation of a public benefit corporation (PBC), with Microsoft holding an investment valued at about $135 billion roughly 27% on a diluted basis.
The new framework preserves Microsoft’s exclusive rights to OpenAI models and Azure API integration until Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is achieved. It also introduces updates such as verification of AGI by an independent panel, extended IP rights through 2032, and flexibility for both companies to work with third parties on certain products.
OpenAI has committed to purchasing $250 billion in Azure cloud services, though Microsoft will no longer have first refusal rights as a compute provider. The partnership continues to center on safety, transparency, and expanding AI access for global innovation.
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