Speaking on a New York Times podcast on Tuesday, Altman acknowledged that while the partnership has been beneficial, it hasn’t been without its challenges.
“Obviously in any deep partnership, there are points of tension and we certainly have those,” Altman said. “But on the whole, it’s been really wonderfully good for both companies.”
The remarks come as industry watchers follow developments surrounding Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI, which could have long-term implications for the balance of power in the global AI race. Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft and OpenAI are in talks to revise the terms of Microsoft’s stake, with discussions centering around its future equity position.
Meanwhile, The Financial Times suggested that Microsoft may consider pausing the negotiations if the two sides are unable to find agreement on key issues.
Neither company responded to Reuters’ request for comment at the time of reporting.
A Strategic Partnership Under Pressure
Microsoft, which has reportedly invested over $13 billion in OpenAI, has integrated the firm’s technology across its suite of products — including Azure cloud services, Office, and Bing — and maintains a non-voting observer seat on OpenAI’s board.
However, as OpenAI grows in scale, revenue, and influence, questions have emerged about governance, control, and the long-term structure of their partnership.
Altman Credits Trump on AI Awareness
In a separate part of the interview, Altman revealed that he also recently held a productive conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the topic of artificial intelligence. He praised Trump for his grasp of the technology’s geopolitical and economic significance.
The comments follow Trump’s announcement earlier this year of Stargate, a $500 billion private sector AI infrastructure initiative, backed by major players including SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI.
Altman's comments appear aimed at reassuring stakeholders and the public that, despite behind-the-scenes negotiations, OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft remains intact and mutually beneficial — at least for now.
As AI continues to reshape the global tech landscape, how these corporate alliances evolve will play a crucial role in determining who leads the next era of intelligent computing.