intellectualproperty News & Analysis

Microsoft (MSFT) Raises Concerns Over OpenAI's $850B Valuation

Microsoft (MSFT) CEO Satya Nadella expressed concerns about being overly reliant on OpenAI as its valuation reached $850 billion. Nadella testified that he feared a scenario where OpenAI could eclipse Microsoft in the tech hierarchy, mirroring the past IBM-Microsoft dynamics. The partnership with OpenAI is crucial for Microsoft's cloud business, with around 45% of Microsoft's commercial remaining performance obligations tied to OpenAI as of the end of 2025. The companies have restructured their agreement multiple times to ensure Microsoft benefits from the intellectual property developed by OpenAI.