OpenAI and Microsoft End Exclusivity: OpenAI Now Free to Deploy Across All Clouds
Original: OpenAI and Microsoft End Exclusivity: OpenAI Now Free to Deploy Across All Clouds View original →
The End of Exclusivity
On April 27, 2026, Sam Altman announced that OpenAI has updated its partnership with Microsoft, ending the exclusive cloud arrangement. Microsoft remains OpenAI's primary cloud partner with first-access priority, but OpenAI is now free to deploy its products and services across any cloud provider.
Key Terms of the New Agreement
- Microsoft retains a non-exclusive license to OpenAI IP through 2032
- OpenAI continues paying Microsoft a revenue share through 2030, now subject to a cap
- Microsoft stops paying a revenue share back to OpenAI
- AGI-related provisions removed, simplifying the overall relationship
Why It Happened
OpenAI struck a $50 billion strategic partnership with Amazon in February 2026 and has been pursuing similar arrangements with other cloud providers. The original exclusive deal created legal uncertainty around these partnerships. This amendment resolves those tensions and formalizes OpenAI's multi-cloud strategy.
What This Means for Enterprises
Enterprise customers can now access OpenAI models and services natively on AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure, removing a key source of friction for companies with preferred cloud environments. The move intensifies competition between cloud providers for OpenAI workloads.
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One of AI’s most important commercial contracts just loosened up. Microsoft keeps Azure’s first-stop role and long-dated IP access, but OpenAI can now sell across any cloud and Microsoft will no longer pay it a revenue share.
Microsoft and OpenAI have restructured their partnership, ending Azure exclusivity so OpenAI can now sell products on AWS and Google Cloud. The deal also eliminates Microsoft's revenue-share payments to OpenAI, while OpenAI's payments to Microsoft continue through 2030 with a cap.
Microsoft and OpenAI said on February 27, 2026 that OpenAI's new funding and new partners do not change the previously disclosed terms of their relationship. The companies said Azure remains the exclusive cloud for stateless OpenAI APIs while OpenAI still has room to secure additional compute elsewhere, including through Stargate-scale infrastructure projects.
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