OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed that he recently held a call with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss the future of their high-profile partnership. Speaking on a New York Times podcast on Tuesday, Altman addressed the state of the collaboration and acknowledged ongoing discussions about potential changes to Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI.
Microsoft and OpenAI Reevaluate Terms of Investment
Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft and OpenAI are in active talks to revise the terms of their multi-billion-dollar investment deal. Key issues under negotiation include:
- Microsoft’s future equity stake in OpenAI
- Structure and scope of ongoing collaboration
- Decision-making influence in product and infrastructure development
According to the Financial Times, Microsoft is even considering pausing discussions if both parties cannot reach consensus on major terms.
Altman: Partnership With Microsoft Has Been “Wonderfully Good” Despite Tensions
While confirming that points of tension exist in any deep partnership, Altman remained optimistic about the future of the OpenAI–Microsoft collaboration.
“Obviously in any deep partnership, there are points of tension and we certainly have those,” Altman said. “But on the whole, it’s been like really wonderfully good for both companies.”
Microsoft, OpenAI’s largest backer, has integrated OpenAI’s technology into its Copilot suite, Azure AI infrastructure, and other enterprise tools.
Altman Credits Trump for AI Awareness During Private Talks
In an unexpected twist, Altman also revealed he had productive conversations with former U.S. President Donald Trump about the future of artificial intelligence.
Altman said Trump demonstrated a strong understanding of the economic and geopolitical importance of AI and supported private sector investment.
Trump’s $500 Billion AI Initiative: Stargate
In January 2025, Trump announced Stargate, a proposed $500 billion AI infrastructure fund. The initiative includes:
- Funding from major tech firms like SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle
- Investment into AI research, data centers, and national computing infrastructure
- Focus on ensuring the U.S. leads in next-generation AI development
Altman expressed enthusiasm about the scale of Stargate and its potential to transform global AI capabilities.
