Home / Technology / OpenAI Ditches Microsoft Exclusivity for Cloud Freedom
OpenAI Ditches Microsoft Exclusivity for Cloud Freedom
28 Apr
Summary
- OpenAI can now serve customers across any cloud provider.
- Microsoft's license for OpenAI's IP is now non-exclusive.
- Amazon will offer OpenAI models on its Bedrock service soon.
OpenAI and Microsoft have updated their exclusive partnership, enabling OpenAI to serve customers through cloud providers beyond Microsoft Azure. This amended agreement, effective as of April 28, 2026, allows OpenAI to offer its products to clients on any cloud platform.
Microsoft will maintain a non-exclusive license for OpenAI's intellectual property and models until 2032, with Azure remaining its primary cloud partner. This modification follows reports of Microsoft's prior objections to a substantial deal between OpenAI and Amazon, which would have made OpenAI models available via Amazon Web Services (AWS).
OpenAI's Chief Revenue Officer, Denise Dresser, had previously noted that the Microsoft partnership limited the company's ability to meet enterprise needs, particularly concerning Amazon Bedrock. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy confirmed that OpenAI models would soon be accessible to builders on Bedrock, providing more choice for various applications.
