OpenAI seeks more financial concessions from Microsoft- The Information

Published 17/06/2025, 03:40
Updated 17/06/2025, 04:20
© Reuters

Investing.com-- OpenAI is seeking several major concessions from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), its biggest investor, as they negotiate over the start-up’s plan to restructure its for-profit unit, The Information reported on Monday evening.

OpenAI wants Microsoft to forgo its rights to future profits from the AI start-up in exchange for a 33% stake in its restructured unit, the Information report said, citing a person familiar with the matter.  

The AI start-up is seeking to limit the amount of revenue shared with Microsoft, and is also seeking to exempt its acquisition of artificial intelligence coding firm Windsurf from a contract with Microsoft that grants the tech giant access to OpenAI’s intellectual property, the report said.

The Information report comes just hours after the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI executives considered accusing Microsoft of anticompetitive behaviour during their partnership. The AI start-up could seek a federal review of the terms of its contract with Microsoft.

The reports represent a potential souring in one of the most high-profile tech partnerships in recent years. Microsoft is OpenAI’s biggest backer and has invested in the firm since 2019.

Microsoft was able to capitalize almost immediately on OpenAI’s boom in popularity, with the Redmond, Washington-based firm folding OpenAI’s tech into its products. 

But Microsoft was seen stepping back from its partnership with OpenAI in recent months, especially as negotiations over the company’s restructuring of its for-profit unit appeared to have stalled.

OpenAI still needs Microsoft’s approval for the restructuring, with the AI start-up seeking to transition its unit into a public-benefit corporation. The start-up was seen courting Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. (TYO:9984) as a major investor in recent months. 

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