OpenAI and Microsoft have entered a new phase of their strategic partnership, marked by a definitive agreement that values Microsoft’s investment at around US $135 billion (~27% stake in OpenAI Group PBC).
The deal preserves Microsoft’s exclusive Azure API rights for frontier models until AGI is declared, while adding fresh terms: any AGI declaration by OpenAI must be verified by an independent expert panel.
Microsoft’s IP rights now extend through 2032 and include post-AGI models. OpenAI can now freely partner beyond Microsoft for compute and deployment, signalling a more open ecosystem.
