At the beginning of 2026, the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI—once described as an “unstoppable force”—has reached a strategic turning point that could redefine the future of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The End of the “Honeymoon Phase”
For years, the deal was simple: Microsoft provided Azure’s massive computing power and billions in capital, while OpenAI delivered industry-leading models. However, new reports indicate that the “exclusivity” that defined their initial success is deteriorating.
As OpenAI seeks higher valuations and greater autonomy, Sam Altman’s company has begun diversifying its infrastructure. For the first time, OpenAI is exploring “multicloud” strategies, reducing its total dependence on Microsoft’s servers to handle the colossal training requirements of GPT-5 and the o1 reasoning models.
Key Drivers Behind the 2026 Shift
Several catalysts have transformed this partnership into “coopetition” (cooperation + competition):
The Pursuit of AGI: Microsoft recently clarified its position on AGI. According to existing contracts, once OpenAI achieves AGI, Microsoft’s commercial license for the technology expires. This has pushed Microsoft to accelerate the development of its internal AI division, led by Mustafa Suleyman, to build proprietary “level 1” models.
Chip Independence: Both companies are now racing to secure their own chips. Although they collaborated on the Maia chip, OpenAI is reportedly in talks with Broadcom and TSMC to build a global network of AI chip factories—an initiative signaling a future where OpenAI operates as a fully independent hardware entity.
Market Cannibalization: Microsoft’s Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus are increasingly competing for the same corporate clients. As both tools evolve into AI “agents” capable of executing complex office tasks, the overlap in their sales funnels has created friction between their respective sales teams.
“The partnership has ceased to be a monogamous marriage and has become a strategic alliance between two giants who realize they may become each other’s greatest rivals.” — Technology industry analyst