Microsoft and OpenAI have rewritten the deal that has defined their relationship since 2019, in a restructuring that significantly loosens the exclusivity ties between the two companies.
What changed
Under the amended agreement: Microsoft ends its Azure revenue share payments to OpenAI. OpenAI continues to pay Microsoft a revenue share through 2030, capped at a total figure neither party disclosed. OpenAI can now sell its products on any cloud — including Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud — ending 2019 exclusivity. The infamous "AGI clause" that would have let Microsoft pull back from obligations if AGI was declared achieved is removed.
Why it happened
Anthropic's annualized revenue grew from $9B at end-2024 to $30B by April 2026, surpassing OpenAI for the first time. The pressure gave OpenAI negotiating leverage to demand better terms. OpenAI is also preparing for a planned IPO and building its advertising business — both of which required more operational flexibility than the old deal allowed.
Why it matters
Enterprise buyers can now run OpenAI models on their existing AWS or Google Cloud infrastructure without routing through Azure — a significant shift for procurement and compliance teams.