Microsoft and OpenAI have entered a landmark new phase in their partnership, reinforcing one of the most influential collaborations in the global AI ecosystem. As part of the updated agreement, Microsoft now holds a $135 billion stake, representing approximately 27% ownership in OpenAI, as the company transitions into a public benefit corporation (PBC).

The partnership continues to uphold Microsoft’s exclusive intellectual property (IP) rights and Azure API exclusivity until the advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). However, the new structure introduces expanded collaboration and transparency mechanisms designed to accelerate responsible AI innovation.

Key highlights of the agreement include:

1. AGI development and readiness will be independently verified by an expert panel.
2. Microsoft’s IP rights are extended through 2032 and cover post-AGI models.
3. OpenAI gains flexibility to work with third parties, offer API access to U.S. government clients across any cloud, and release open-weight models.
4. OpenAI commits to purchasing $250 billion in Azure services, though Microsoft will no longer have first-refusal rights for compute resources.

This evolved partnership marks a pivotal step toward building scalable, ethical, and human-centric AI solutions that empower enterprises and developers worldwide.