Microsoft was worried OpenAI would run off to Amazon and ‘shit-talk’ Azure

Internal Microsoft emails and trial exhibits show executives in 2017-2018 debating whether to fund OpenAI’s rising compute needs.

Some leaders worried OpenAI could turn to Amazon, which would hurt Azure’s reputation and Microsoft’s position in cloud AI.

Microsoft ultimately invested $1 billion in OpenAI, helping cement a partnership that became central to both companies’ AI strategy.

That alliance is now being renegotiated as OpenAI grows beyond Microsoft and explores broader cloud ties, including AWS.