OpenAi v. Microsoft: Altman ready to sue for unfair competition
According to the Wsj, the start-up evaluates the accusation, putting the historic alliance on artificial intelligence at risk
3' min read
Key points
3' min read
"C'eravamo tanto amati'. Ettore Scola's masterpiece has little to do with technology. Its title, however, fits perfectly with an all-American hi-tech challenge. Who are we talking about? Microsoft and OpenAI. The two giants - in this case on the artificial intelligence (AI) front - once walked hand in hand, now find themselves on opposite sides, ready to challenge each other.
The idyll, which began in 2019 with a billion-dollar investment by the Redmond group, had until yesterday all the makings of a success story: Microsoft provided resources and infrastructure, OpenAI created the world's most sophisticated digital brains. But today, thanks to the success of ChatGPT and a mountain of new capital at stake, relations have soured. And not a little.
The dispute
.At the heart of the disagreement is the transformation of OpenAI into a for-profit company, necessary to attract new investors and open the door to a possible IPO. But to do so, it needs the consent of the company founded by Bill Gates, which holds crucial rights over the software, infrastructure and even the strategic choices of the start-up. And here begins the friction. OpenAI wants more freedom, Microsoft demands guarantees and, why not, a more generous slice of the future cake.
The climate has become so tense that, according to internal rumours reported by the Wall Street Journal, OpenAI has put a potentially devastating weapon on the table: accusing Microsoft of anti-competitive practices and raising the attention of the Federal Trade Commission. It would be a low blow, but also an unmistakable signal: patience is running out.
The background
.Behind the scenes, the Windsurf case ignites further sparks. OpenAI has just acquired this start-up specialising in code for $3 billion, but does not want Microsoft to get its hands on its technology. Too bad the current agreement provides just that: full access to intellectual property. And it doesn't end there. OpenAI would like to diversify its partners in cloud computing, breaking the exclusive link with Azure. Microsoft, needless to say, is far from agreeing.
