Microsoft and OpenAI amend their deal, ending cloud exclusivity

Background

The previous agreement had kept Azure as the exclusive cloud for OpenAI's API products until AGI, while tying Microsoft and OpenAI together through revenue sharing and intellectual property rights. Months later the two companies revised those terms again.

What happened

On 27 April 2026 Microsoft and OpenAI announced an amended partnership agreement.^[1][2] The change allowed broader cloud access: OpenAI can now serve all its products to customers on any cloud provider.^[1][2]

Azure remains OpenAI's primary cloud platform. It still gets OpenAI products first, unless Microsoft cannot or chooses not to support the required capabilities.^[1][2]

Key details

Microsoft keeps a licence to OpenAI's models and product IP through 2032, but the licence is now non-exclusive.^[1]

Microsoft no longer pays a revenue share to OpenAI. OpenAI's revenue-share payments to Microsoft continue through 2030 at the same percentage, subject to a total cap.^[1][2]

The payments are no longer tied to OpenAI's technical progress. Wikipedia reports that the AGI-related clause was dropped.^[2][3]

Impact

Microsoft remains a major shareholder. The companies said the change gives "greater predictability", and that they would keep cooperating on data centre capacity, next-generation silicon and AI for cybersecurity.^[1]

The amendment removed the cloud exclusivity that had defined the partnership. OpenAI could now sell its products through other clouds, while Microsoft kept a long-term, non-exclusive licence and a priority position as the primary cloud platform.^[1][2]

What "non-exclusive" changes

An exclusive licence means that only one company may use the rights in question. A non-exclusive licence means that the licensor may grant the same rights to others. Keeping a licence to OpenAI's models and product IP as non-exclusive means Microsoft keeps its access to the technology, while OpenAI is free to offer the same technology through other channels, including other cloud providers.^[1]

Why revenue-share terms matter

A revenue share is a percentage of income that one party pays to another under an agreement. Here the flow of payments was reversed in part. Microsoft no longer pays OpenAI a share, while OpenAI continues to pay Microsoft a share through 2030, at the same percentage, with a total cap. A cap limits the maximum total amount that can be paid, so both sides have a known upper limit over the period.^[1][2]

Context for readers

Earlier terms had tied some payments to whether OpenAI reached AGI. The change to payments not being tied to technical progress makes the agreement more predictable for each side, as the companies themselves described it. Readers who want the full history can compare this entry with the earlier deal entries in this archive.^[1][2][3]