Microsoft Restructures $135B Partnership with OpenAI Through 2032
Microsoft and OpenAI have announced a sweeping restructuring of their strategic partnership, valuing the tech giant’s stake in the AI company at $135 billion and redefining the framework of their collaboration through the next decade.
A new chapter under OpenAI Group PBC
Under the revised agreement, OpenAI will transition into a new corporate structure known as **OpenAI Group PBC**, operating under the umbrella of the nonprofit **OpenAI Foundation**. The move formalizes OpenAI’s dual mission — commercial innovation and ethical AI oversight — while clarifying governance and ownership lines.
Microsoft’s stake now represents approximately **27% of OpenAI’s total valuation**, solidifying its role as the company’s “pioneer partner” through 2032. The partnership will continue to focus on scaling infrastructure for AI models and advancing research on next-generation artificial intelligence systems, including those approaching AGI capabilities.
Governance and leadership clarity
The new structure grants **Chairman Brett Taylor** and **CEO Sam Altman** authority to appoint or remove members of the OpenAI Group PBC board. This centralization of governance aims to ensure alignment between OpenAI’s ethical charter and its commercial roadmap.
Despite the reorganization, OpenAI will still direct roughly **20% of its revenue to Microsoft** in exchange for access to Azure compute power and exclusive licensing agreements.
Microsoft’s exclusive rights until 2032
As part of the deal, Microsoft retains **exclusive licensing rights** to OpenAI’s proprietary models, training technologies, and applied products until 2032. These rights also extend to systems developed **beyond AGI thresholds**, meaning any superintelligent successors to GPT models will remain within Microsoft’s ecosystem for commercial distribution.
However, the agreement specifies that Microsoft **will not hold rights** to any consumer hardware products developed by OpenAI — such as potential AI devices or embedded assistants.
Balancing profit and mission
Analysts see the restructuring as an effort to stabilize OpenAI’s complex hybrid identity: part nonprofit, part global enterprise. The creation of OpenAI Group PBC under a foundation allows the company to pursue funding and commercialization while preserving its stated mission of ensuring safe and beneficial AGI.
A decade-long alliance shaping the AI era
The renewed partnership reaffirms Microsoft’s position as a cornerstone of OpenAI’s growth — not merely as an investor but as an operational co-architect of the AI revolution. With AGI research accelerating, both firms appear poised to define not just the technology but also the governance that will guide it.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab