Catenaa, Thursday, June 19, 2025- OpenAI is reportedly weighing a potential antitrust complaint against Microsoft, its largest investor and key partner, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the two companies that have collaborated closely on artificial intelligence development since 2019.
The proposed complaint would accuse Microsoft of leveraging its dominant cloud services position and contract terms to stifle competition, insiders said, describing the action as a “nuclear option.”
Microsoft invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019 and has since injected billions more, gaining exclusive rights to host OpenAI’s AI models on its Azure cloud platform.
At the heart of the dispute is OpenAI’s planned shift from its current nonprofit structure to a Delaware-based public benefit corporation, a change requiring Microsoft’s approval. The two companies have been unable to reach agreement on terms after months of negotiation, Reuters reported.
OpenAI seeks to revise Microsoft’s future equity stake in the restructured entity, reportedly proposing a 33 percent ownership in exchange for Microsoft relinquishing rights to future profits, according to The Information. OpenAI also aims to alter clauses granting Microsoft exclusive hosting rights, potentially opening the door to competitors.
The disagreement threatens to unravel one of the AI sector’s most significant partnerships, potentially reshaping the business and regulatory landscape of artificial intelligence.
