OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed he had a phone conversation with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss strategic collaboration between the two corporations in the upcoming period.
Altman revealed this exchange in a New York Times podcast on Tuesday morning, skillfully easing tensions while acknowledging existing "points of disagreement" in their partnership.
Negotiations Determining Microsoft's Stake in OpenAI
Microsoft, an early investor in OpenAI, is negotiating to adjust investment terms. According to the Wall Street Journal, this adjustment could significantly change Microsoft's ownership stake in this AI startup.
"Clearly, in every deep relationship, there are points of disagreement, and we are no exception."
~ Altman.
"But overall, this relationship remains extremely positive and brings significant benefits to both sides," he shared with NYT.
Another report from Financial Times indicates that Microsoft might pause negotiations if they cannot find common ground, especially regarding future ownership ratio at OpenAI.
FT revealed that the tech corporation is ready to "abandon risky negotiations" if no agreement is reached. Both parties declined further comment beyond affirming their collaborative relationship remains effective.
A hot point of contention is the number of shares Microsoft will receive if OpenAI successfully converts to a for-profit company. OpenAI is reportedly seeking to freely raise new capital or go public, which could dilute Microsoft's current shares if terms are not renegotiated.
OpenAI has also accused Microsoft of actions that might attract regulatory attention, given its dual role as both investor and sole cloud partner.
Despite disagreements, both parties remain committed to their current commercial contract until 2030, using Azure as the cloud platform for all OpenAI projects. This contract supports products like GitHub Copilot and the cloud platform behind ChatGPT, which are pillars in both companies' AI ambitions.
Tensions have persisted for months, but after a report on June 17th, both companies issued a joint statement rejecting fractures, emphasizing: "We have a long-standing, effective partnership that provides excellent AI tools for everyone. Negotiations are ongoing, and we are optimistic about building the future together."
Microsoft and OpenAI Optimistic About Future Collaborative Projects
Besides his conversation with Nadella, Altman revealed he had effective AI discussions with former US President Donald Trump, appreciating his understanding of the geopolitical and economic importance of advanced machine learning technology.
In January, Trump announced "Stargate," a $500 billion private initiative involving SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI, aimed at promoting national AI infrastructure.
The Microsoft-OpenAI relationship is currently a classic success story in the tech industry. Microsoft's early investment helped OpenAI rapidly breakthrough; simultaneously, OpenAI's breakthroughs stimulated demand for Microsoft's cloud and software services.
However, as both move towards new projects and potential stock market listings, they are gradually transitioning from partners to competitors.
Negotiations continue discreetly internally, with both sides remaining optimistic about a long-term collaborative path. But with the April 2026 deadline for OpenAI's conversion to a for-profit model to preserve financial commitments, the next few months will determine the relationship's future.
The market will closely monitor developments. Microsoft's expansion of AI power or potential withdrawal depends on the speed of resolving final complexities and balancing growth ambitions with control of the world's most advanced technology.
