OpenAI and Microsoft: Partnership threatens to break up

The rift between OpenAI and Microsoft seems to be deepening. According to reports, OpenAI is already planning the big bang. In case of doubt, they want to publicly accuse Microsoft of having acted anti-competitively. To this end, OpenAI executives are said to be considering applying for an official review of their contracts with Microsoft.

OpenAI has been trying to break away from Microsoft for some time now. The main issue here is that Microsoft should not be able to access the intellectual property, i.e., OpenAI's services. However, OpenAI was only able to develop all services with the money and resources provided by Microsoft. Microsoft's approval is also required if OpenAI wants to transform its structure into a profit-oriented company. It is still unclear what share Microsoft would be entitled to in such a conversion.

OpenAI is already breaking away from Microsoft

The three billion US dollar takeover of the AI start-up Windsurf by OpenAI is also currently causing a dispute. Windsurf works on software that allows developers to create code using natural language. In other words, it is roughly what Microsoft also offers for GitHub with Copilot. OpenAI now wants to prevent Windsurf's knowledge from ending up at GitHub, writes TechCrunch magazine. This is although the contract between OpenAI and Microsoft stipulates that Microsoft is entitled to offer software exclusively via its own Azure cloud.

However, things have apparently been brewing for some time. OpenAI is said to be trying to reduce its dependence on Microsoft's servers. To this end, they are involved in Project Stargate, which is primarily financed by the Japanese company Softbank – which has also been supporting OpenAI financially for some time. Project Stargate includes a center for hundreds of thousands of AI computing accelerators in Texas.

(emw)