OpenAI is reportedly planning to drastically adjust its revenue-sharing structure with Microsoft (MS).
Tech outlet The Information reported on the 13th (local time) that OpenAI plans to lower the revenue share currently at 20% for MS to about 8% by 2030. This is the first case in which the specific revenue-sharing ratio in the two companies' partnership has been disclosed. However, it has not been confirmed whether MS has given final agreement to those terms.
Since 2019, MS has invested more than $13 billion, establishing itself as OpenAI's largest early investor. The two companies have discussed a new cooperation model since last year in connection with OpenAI's corporations structure overhaul. Currently, OpenAI relies entirely on MS's cloud infrastructure for AI model development and service operations and allocates a portion of revenue to MS.
However, as OpenAI pushes "Stargate," a large-scale data center construction project, and expands the use of infrastructure from other cloud companies such as Google and CoreWeave, it is reducing its dependence on MS. Accordingly, it is interpreted as signaling that the revenue-sharing ratio with MS should naturally be reduced.
The Information estimated that if the revenue share is set at 8%, OpenAI could secure about $50 billion (about 70 trillion won) in additional revenue by 2030. This is expected to provide a foundation that could greatly expand OpenAI's self-reliance and capacity for future investment.
Meanwhile, OpenAI and MS announced on the 11th that they had reached a preliminary agreement on new terms for OpenAI's transition in corporations structure. The two companies said they "signed a non-binding memorandum and are in talks to finalize the terms of a definitive agreement." The discussions include the size of the equity MS will secure as OpenAI transitions to a public-interest foundation.
OpenAI is currently under the control of a nonprofit parent. Even if it transitions to a public-interest foundation, the nonprofit organization will retain supervisory authority and will hold up to $100 billion in equity, the company said. This corresponds to about 20% of OpenAI's corporations value of $500 billion assessed during recent stock sales by current and former employees.