OpenAI is reportedly gearing up to reduce the slice of its revenue shared with Microsoft by the end of the decade. According to internal financial documents cited by The Information, the AI giant projects that by 2030, only 10% of its earnings will be allocated to business partners, including Microsoft—down from the 20% it currently hands over.
This shift in revenue sharing comes as OpenAI embarks on a significant corporate restructuring. Earlier this week, the company ditched its original plan to spin out its for-profit unit into a traditional corporate entity. Instead, it now aims to transform that unit into a public benefit corporation (PBC) that still operates under the oversight of OpenAI’s nonprofit parent. The move is designed to preserve its mission while maintaining operational flexibility and access to capital.
Currently, Microsoft plays a central role in OpenAI’s success. It has invested tens of billions of dollars into the company and holds an exclusive licensing deal to integrate OpenAI’s technology across Azure services. Their agreement, which runs through 2030, includes bilateral revenue sharing and grants Microsoft access to OpenAI’s intellectual property for use in its suite of AI-powered tools.
While OpenAI’s new corporate structure is already in motion, Microsoft has yet to sign off on the plan. According to Bloomberg, the tech giant is closely reviewing the changes to ensure its multi-billion-dollar investment remains secure. As OpenAI shifts its financial model and governance, Microsoft’s influence—and its share of future returns—could face recalibration.
Both companies have remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the matter.
