Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated in a conversation with investors Bill Gurley and Brad Gerstner that OpenAI has the potential to become one of the most influential companies of our time. He described OpenAI as "in some ways like Google, Microsoft, or Meta," indicating that OpenAI may play a role in the field of artificial intelligence similar to that of these tech giants during the previous computing era.
Nadella pointed out that Microsoft's early collaboration with OpenAI provided significant advantages in the AI race. He stated, "We basically had two years of exclusive development time. I don’t think we will see that kind of lead again." According to him, this collaboration has helped Microsoft win large cloud customers such as Shopify, Stripe, and Spotify, which previously relied mainly on Amazon AWS or Google’s services. OpenAI itself has also become an important cloud customer for Microsoft.
Discussing OpenAI's new partnership with Apple, Nadella welcomed it, believing it could further drive Microsoft's cloud revenue growth. He mentioned, "I was the most excited person when Tim (Cook) finally struck a deal with Sam (Altman). This deal is more beneficial than any other because we have a business and investment relationship with OpenAI."
Nevertheless, Nadella remains cautious about OpenAI's future profitability structure. He emphasized that Microsoft aims to protect its interests while supporting OpenAI's plans, including its transition to a "public benefit corporation."
When talking about Microsoft's investment relationship with OpenAI, Nadella mentioned that OpenAI uses Azure for its model training and operations, which has greatly boosted Microsoft's cloud business. He stated, "We are both very interested in each other’s success." Meanwhile, other cloud service providers like Google and AWS are also investing in AI startups to promote their cloud business growth.
Despite the successful collaboration, the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI faces challenges. Reports have indicated that Microsoft reassessed its investment strategy after OpenAI briefly fired CEO Sam Altman. Additionally, OpenAI has expressed concerns about Azure's computing capabilities and has sought additional resources, reaching a $10 billion computing capacity deal with Oracle.
Key Points:
🌟 OpenAI is viewed by Nadella as one of the most influential companies of our time, with the potential to shape the future of the AI field.
☁️ Microsoft's collaboration with OpenAI has helped it win multiple large cloud customers, driving growth in its cloud services business.
🔄 OpenAI is considering a transition to a public benefit corporation while seeking additional computing resources to address challenges in their collaboration.
