Microsoft’s relationship with OpenAI cracked when it hired Mustafa Suleyman, rival Marc Benioff says | TechCrunch
Jan 22, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff commented on the growing rift between Microsoft and OpenAI, noting that OpenAI's decision to partner with SoftBank and Oracle on a $500 billion data center project called Stargate has ended Microsoft's exclusivity as OpenAI's cloud provider. Benioff suggested that OpenAI's move to diversify its platforms is crucial, as Microsoft is developing its own AI models and may not rely on OpenAI in the future. He highlighted the tension between OpenAI's Sam Altman and Microsoft's newly hired AI leader Mustafa Suleyman, suggesting that their strained relationship was evident at a previous Davos event. The partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI was expected to evolve, especially after OpenAI's release of a competing enterprise product and Altman's brief removal and reinstatement as CEO.
The end of the exclusive agreement was anticipated, as it was set to conclude upon achieving AGI, which Altman claims is now possible. Reports of tension between the companies have surfaced, with employees expressing dissatisfaction in their collaboration. Microsoft, meanwhile, is reportedly developing its own large language model, MAI-1, and has formed a new AI group led by Jay Parikh, which notably did not mention OpenAI. This development is favorable for Benioff, as Salesforce uses OpenAI's enterprise models and invests in OpenAI rival Anthropic. Suleyman has publicly acknowledged minor tensions in the OpenAI partnership, aligning with Benioff's observations.
Key takeaways:
OpenAI is partnering with SoftBank and Oracle on a $500 billion data center project, ending Microsoft's exclusivity as its cloud provider.
Tensions between OpenAI and Microsoft have been rising, partly due to OpenAI's competing enterprise product and differing visions on AI development.
Microsoft has hired Mustafa Suleyman to lead its AI efforts, signaling a potential shift away from reliance on OpenAI.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff sees the rift as beneficial for Salesforce, which uses OpenAI's models and invests in its rival, Anthropic.
