SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The dynamic between Microsoft and OpenAI has taken a new turn: Microsoft has now recognized the AI startup as a competitor in its latest annual report.
Evolving dynamics
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman introduced their partnership at the OpenAI DevDay event in San Francisco on November 6, 2023. However, the relationship has evolved as Microsoft has added OpenAI to its roster of competitors, which already includes tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, and Meta.
Partnership and competition
Microsoft has a deep-rooted partnership with OpenAI, serving as its exclusive cloud provider and integrating OpenAI’s AI models into various consumer and commercial products. As OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft has invested approximately $13 billion in the company. Despite this partnership, the competitive landscape between the two companies is becoming more apparent.
In its recent presentation, Microsoft has pegged OpenAI, known for creating the ChatGPT chatbot, as a rival in AI services, search, and news advertising. The shift follows OpenAI’s announcement of a prototype search engine called SearchGPT.
Market Options
Enterprises can choose to access OpenAI models directly or through Microsoft's Azure OpenAI service. For those looking for alternatives to ChatGPT, Microsoft offers its Copilot chatbot through the Bing search engine and Windows operating systems.
An OpenAI spokesperson reassured CNBC that the competitive aspect was planned from the beginning of their partnership. The spokesperson stressed that the partnership remains strong and beneficial for both parties.
A tumultuous year
The past year has seen significant developments in the Microsoft-OpenAI relationship. In one notable incident, Microsoft’s CEO was not notified before OpenAI’s board of directors decided to remove Sam Altman as CEO in November. Altman was quickly reinstated, and OpenAI granted Microsoft a non-voting board seat, which Microsoft later relinquished earlier this month.
In March, Satya Nadella recruited Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, another AI research firm acquired by Google in 2014. Suleyman, who also co-founded Inflection AI, was named CEO of a new division called Microsoft AI, bringing several Inflection employees with him.
Nadella maintains a close relationship with Altman, saying in a recent interview with The New York Times, “One of the things I love about Sam is that every day he calls me and says, 'I need more, I need more, I need more. '”
Future perspectives
As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the interplay between collaboration and competition will shape the future of both Microsoft and OpenAI. Despite the complexities, both companies appear committed to advancing their AI capabilities while managing their competitive relationship.