Microsoft & OpenAI · 2026-04-27 · major
Microsoft–OpenAI Partnership Rewrite — Exclusivity Ends, Revenue Share Capped Through 2030
Microsoft's IP license to OpenAI models becomes non-exclusive through 2032. Microsoft stops paying revenue share to OpenAI; OpenAI continues capped payments to Microsoft through 2030. Azure remains primary cloud, but OpenAI can now sell across all clouds.
Microsoft's exclusive grip on OpenAI models is over — OpenAI is free to sell anywhere, including Amazon and Google clouds.
What is it?
An amended deal between Microsoft and OpenAI announced jointly on April 27, 2026. The original 2019/2023 partnership gave Microsoft exclusive rights to resell OpenAI's models on its cloud and a revenue share on OpenAI's product sales. Both pieces have been unwound.
How does it work?
Microsoft keeps a license to OpenAI IP through 2032, but it is no longer exclusive. In return, Microsoft stops paying OpenAI a revenue share on resold products. OpenAI keeps paying Microsoft a revenue share through 2030, but it is now capped. Azure remains OpenAI's primary cloud and gets first access to new products, but OpenAI can distribute on every other cloud — most immediately AWS, where OpenAI just signed a $50B compute deal.
Why does it matter?
The single most consequential structural pact in modern AI is being rewritten in public. It clears OpenAI's path to multi-cloud (the Amazon deal was a legal grey area until today) and removes Microsoft's first-mover advantage on frontier models. Every Azure-first AI procurement strategy now needs a re-read.