Microsoft gains OpenAI deal allowing independent AGI pursuit or partnerships
Microsoft’s latest arrangement with OpenAI reshapes how the tech giant can chase artificial‑general intelligence. The contract removes a previous hurdle that kept Microsoft tethered to OpenAI’s roadmap, opening the door for the company to chart its own course. While the partnership still links the two firms, the new language grants Microsoft the freedom to launch its own AGI projects, whether solo or alongside other collaborators.
That shift matters because it clarifies who holds the reins on the underlying intellectual property and who can claim credit for breakthroughs. It also signals that Microsoft can now act without needing explicit consent from OpenAI for every step, a nuance that could affect how quickly the industry moves toward more capable systems. Here’s the thing: the legal footing of this deal has drawn attention from insiders, including Hayden Field, who notes the firm’s right to leverage OpenAI’s assets.
The implications for the broader “race” to superintelligent AI are immediate and, for some, unsettling.
Under a new deal with OpenAI, Microsoft can now "independently pursue AGI alone or in partnership with third parties." And, as pointed out by my colleague Hayden Field, "Microsoft is perfectly within its legal rights to use OpenAI's IP to develop its own AGI and attempt to win the race."
Under a new deal with OpenAI, Microsoft can now "independently pursue AGI alone or in partnership with third parties." And, as pointed out by my colleague Hayden Field, "Microsoft is perfectly within its legal rights to use OpenAI's IP to develop its own AGI and attempt to win the race." But Suleyman has a vision for "humanist" superintelligence with three main applications, which include serving as an AI companion that will help people "learn, act, be productive, and feel supported," offering assistance in the healthcare industry, and creating "new scientific breakthroughs" in clean energy.
Microsoft’s new “humanist superintelligence” team promises AI that “serves humanity” and keeps people “at the top of the food chain.” Yet the claim that superintelligent systems will avoid harming humans rests largely on internal design goals, not on demonstrated safeguards. Under the freshly announced OpenAI agreement, Microsoft may develop AGI alone or partner with others, and it can legally draw on OpenAI’s intellectual property. That freedom could accelerate progress, but it also raises questions about how independent oversight will be applied when the same company controls both the source code and the strategic direction.
Suleyman’s blog post emphasizes a human‑centric mission, but concrete mechanisms for ensuring that mission remain unclear. The initiative’s success will depend on more than lofty statements; it will require transparent testing, external validation, and clear accountability structures—elements that the announcement does not detail. Whether Microsoft can deliver a superintelligence that truly “won’t be terrible for humanity” is still uncertain, and the broader implications of wielding OpenAI’s IP in this context have yet to be fully examined.
Further Reading
- Inside the Microsoft-OpenAI Deal: New Terms for AGI and Enterprise Cloud - VKTR
- Microsoft, OpenAI Rewrite Partnership Rules Ahead of AGI Race - Pure AI
- Microsoft, freed from relying on OpenAI, joins the race for ‘superintelligence’—and AI chief Mustafa Suleyman wants to ensure it serves humanity - Fortune
- The next chapter of the Microsoft–OpenAI partnership - Microsoft Blog
Common Questions Answered
What new freedom does the Microsoft‑OpenAI deal give Microsoft regarding AGI development?
The revised contract allows Microsoft to independently pursue artificial‑general intelligence, either on its own or in partnership with third parties. It also grants Microsoft the legal right to use OpenAI's intellectual property when building its own AGI solutions.
How does the new agreement change Microsoft's relationship to OpenAI's roadmap?
Previously, Microsoft was tied to OpenAI's development timeline, but the new language removes that hurdle, letting Microsoft chart its own AGI course. While the partnership remains, Microsoft is no longer obligated to follow OpenAI's roadmap exclusively.
What is meant by Microsoft’s “humanist superintelligence” team, as described in the article?
The team is tasked with creating a superintelligent AI that serves humanity, keeping people "at the top of the food chain" by focusing on learning, productivity, and well‑being. Its design goals emphasize human‑centric outcomes, though the article notes these safeguards are still largely internal concepts.
What potential risks does the article highlight about Microsoft using OpenAI's IP for AGI projects?
The article warns that while leveraging OpenAI's IP could accelerate progress, it also raises questions about safety and control, since the promised safeguards are based on internal design goals rather than proven mechanisms. This dual‑edge could lead to faster breakthroughs but also heightened concerns over unintended harms.