OpenAI has completed its transition into a for-profit company, allowing it to raise new capital and potentially prepare for a stock market debut. As part of the move, Microsoft has taken a 27% stake in the ChatGPT developer, reshaping their partnership first established in 2019.
The new deal allows Microsoft to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI) independently, while OpenAI will form an expert panel to verify any future AGI claims. CEO Sam Altman will not hold equity in the company.
Microsoft’s rights to use OpenAI’s AI models now extend until 2032, excluding hardware. Following the announcement, Microsoft’s market value briefly topped $4 trln.
OpenAI, now valued at $500 bn, reports 800 mln weekly users of ChatGPT and continues expanding with tools like ChatGPT Atlas and the video generator Sora.
The company’s shift marks a major milestone in its evolution from a research lab to a leading commercial force in global AI.
