On April 27, Microsoft and OpenAI modified their collaboration agreement. The main change: the clause preventing OpenAI from selling its services on other clouds has been removed. Now, the artificial intelligence company can distribute its technology through Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, opening the market to its direct competitors.
The technical changes behind the pact restructuring 🔧
Under the new terms, Microsoft no longer receives a revenue share from OpenAI products sold on Azure. However, OpenAI will continue to pay Microsoft 20% of its total revenue until 2030, with a cap controlled by the company itself. This allows OpenAI to scale its infrastructure across multiple cloud providers without penalties, while Microsoft secures fixed income without relying on exclusivity.
OpenAI is now the prodigal son who leaves home (but pays alimony) 🏠
In other words, OpenAI can now go out with other clouds, but until 2030 it will have to pass 20% of its earnings to Microsoft. It's like when your child becomes independent but still pays for the phone and food. Microsoft gets the fixed money, and OpenAI gets freedom. Everyone is happy, except AWS and Google, who now have to deal with a tenant who doesn't pay full rent.