OpenAI and Microsoft make a huge change to their exclusive partnership - does this open the door for AWS to swoop in?

Date:
Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:15:00 +0000

Description:
OpenAI says it wants to serve all customers regardless of cloud provider, but Microsoft remains a "primary" provider.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter OpenAI declares Microsoft a "primary cloud partner," but it's no longer an exclusive partner The "greater predictability" will help the ChatGPT maker to "scale" Recent shifts continue to point toward an IPO OpenAI has declared an end to Microsoft 's exclusive cloud rights, noting it plans to use other cloud providers like AWS and
Google Cloud going forward.

The ChatGPT maker noted Microsoft will remain its "primary cloud partner," whereby it will select Azure as its first choice wherever suitable, but the company now promises to "serve all its products to customers across any cloud provider." As part of the changes, Microsoft will retain access to OpenAI models via a license that lasts until 2032, but it's not unique to Microsoft as OpenAI looks to step away from this exclusivity. Article continues below You may like OpenAI says Microsoft has limited our ability to build customer base, praises new Amazon relationship Microsoft asks federal judge to dismiss ChatGPT subscriber lawsuit OpenAI reportedly building a GitHub alternative after saying Microsoft-owned platform is 'not yet meeting our expectations' OpenAI and Microsoft are no longer exclusive "The greater predictability in the amended agreement strengthens our joint ability to build and operate AI platforms at scale while providing both companies the flexibility to pursue new opportunities," OpenAI wrote in its announcement .

As for Microsoft, it's no longer set to pay a revenue share to OpenAI as it has done under the exclusivity deal, but it will remain a major shareholder
in the company. OpenAI will continue to pay a revenue share to Microsoft
until 2030 at the same percentage, with a cap in place.

It marks around five years of Azure exclusivity, whereby all major products were trained on, and distributed via, Azure. With the contract effectively blocking OpenAI from using AWS, Google Cloud and others, changes started to become apparent in 2025-2026, driven by the Oracle-backed Stargate Project and, a year later, a strategic partnership with Amazon .

Increasing independence could play into OpenAI's strategy to go public,
rumors of which have been circulating for a number of months. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/openai-and-microsoft-make-a-huge-change-to-their -exclusive-partnership-does-this-open-the-door-for-aws-to-swoop-in


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