Microsoft finalises 27% stake as OpenAI completes for profit transformation

Microsoft and OpenAI have finalized a landmark restructuring deal that officially transitions the ChatGPT maker into a for-profit public benefit corporation, ending years of funding constraints and setting the stage for a possible public offering. The move enables OpenAI to raise the massive capital needed to support its growing ambitions in artificial intelligence and data infrastructure.

Under the agreement, Microsoft will retain a 27% ownership stake in OpenAI, valued at approximately $135 billion, and continue to access its AI models and technologies through 2032. While OpenAI will still share around 20% of its revenue with Microsoft, the revised terms remove Microsoft’s right of first refusal to provide computing services, allowing OpenAI to diversify its technology partnerships.

The restructuring simplifies OpenAI’s corporate structure, giving the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation controlling interest in the new OpenAI Group PBC. This governance model preserves public benefit oversight while offering flexibility to raise funds, strike new partnerships, and scale globally. The agreement was reviewed and cleared by regulators in Delaware and California, who emphasized maintaining safety and public benefit as guiding principles.

CEO Sam Altman outlined plans to evolve OpenAI from a product-focused company into a platform for global innovation, enabling businesses to build on its AI technology. Altman also highlighted ambitious infrastructure goals, including $1.4 trillion in data center investments to support next-generation AI systems.

Microsoft’s early $13.8 billion investment has now yielded nearly tenfold returns, reflecting both companies’ intertwined futures. Despite lingering scrutiny around transparency and AI governance, the deal offers OpenAI a clearer path to innovation, capital access, and market expansion, cementing its status as one of the most transformative players in the global AI ecosystem.