According to the Financial Times, Openai is currently in “stricken negotiations” with Microsoft, the largest investor and partner.
The AI startup recently announced major changes to its corporate restructuring plans, but it aims to convert its business arm into a for-profit public benefits corporation, but the nonprofit committee remains under control.
FT says it spoke to multiple sources describing Microsoft, which has invested $13 billion in Openai so far, as the keyholdout needed to approve the rebuild.
The heart of the negotiations is how much stock Microsoft will receive in the new for-profit organization, but companies are also reportedly renegotiating a broader agreement, with Microsoft offering to abandon part of the exchange for access to Openai technology developed after the current 2030 cutoff.
The source also told FT that the relationship between the two companies is more competitive as Openai's enterprise business grows and pursues ambitious Stargate infrastructure projects.