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OpenAI to Halve Revenue Share with Microsoft Amid Restructuring, Report Says

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OpenAI plans to significantly reduce the share of its revenue allocated to Microsoft by the end of the decade, as part of its ongoing corporate restructuring, according to a report by The Information on Tuesday. The AI firm reportedly informed investors that its revenue-sharing deal with Microsoft—currently 20% through 2030—could fall to 10% or less over the next several years.

The shift comes amid broader changes at OpenAI, which recently abandoned plans for a full conversion into a public benefit corporation (PBC) and reaffirmed nonprofit control, limiting CEO Sam Altman’s power while trying to balance mission-driven governance with commercial scalability.

The financial update shared with investors suggests a future where OpenAI is less dependent on Microsoft while still maintaining a collaborative relationship. In response to the report, OpenAI noted it is “finalizing the details of this recapitalization”, and said it continues to work closely with Microsoft. However, Microsoft declined to comment.

In January, Microsoft adjusted key terms of its deal with OpenAI, following its joint venture with Oracle and SoftBank to invest up to $500 billion in U.S.-based AI data centers—a move that signaled deeper integration of AI infrastructure beyond OpenAI’s models alone.

The current OpenAI–Microsoft partnership includes reciprocal revenue sharing agreements, access to OpenAI’s models on Microsoft’s Azure platform, and embedded use of ChatGPT within Microsoft’s enterprise software like Office and Azure AI services.

Microsoft, which has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI, is believed to be negotiating for continued access to OpenAI’s technology post-2030, as competition intensifies in the global AI race.

OpenAI Retreats from Restructuring Plan, Nonprofit Retains Control Amid Lawsuit and Public Backlash

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OpenAI has reversed course on a major restructuring plan, announcing on Monday that its nonprofit parent will retain control over its for-profit arm — a move aimed at easing growing criticism and legal pressure, including a lawsuit from co-founder Elon Musk.

In a blog post, CEO Sam Altman emphasized that OpenAI will remain under nonprofit oversight, countering a December proposal to convert the for-profit unit into a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). That plan, which would have diluted nonprofit control in favor of capital-raising flexibility, faced strong pushback from civic leaders, regulators, and former OpenAI insiders.

“We made the decision for the nonprofit to stay in control after hearing from civic leaders and having discussions with the offices of the Attorneys General of California and Delaware,” said Bret Taylor, chairman of OpenAI’s board.

While the nonprofit will remain the controlling entity and a major shareholder, OpenAI still plans to proceed with uncapping investor profits and revising its for-profit structure to attract future funding. The company is also working with Microsoft, regulators, and other stakeholders to finalize equity distribution under the updated plan.

However, critics say the announcement lacks clarity. Page Hedley, a former OpenAI ethics adviser, said the nonprofit’s reduced ownership stake raises questions about whether OpenAI’s mission — ensuring artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity — will remain legally paramount under the revised structure.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s lawsuit will proceed, with his legal team dismissing the move as a cosmetic change. Attorney Marc Toberoff argued that the new structure hides how much control the nonprofit has ceded to the for-profit business.

Despite the controversy, Altman said investor confidence remains strong, and that the company can still raise up to $40 billion in new funding, including a proposed round led by SoftBank at a $300 billion valuation.

The update comes as the AI arms race intensifies, with OpenAI seeking a delicate balance between mission fidelity and capital flexibility, all while navigating legal scrutiny, ethical concerns, and internal leadership tensions.

Elon Musk to Proceed with Lawsuit Against OpenAI Despite Nonprofit Control Assurance

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Elon Musk will continue pursuing his lawsuit against OpenAI, his attorney Marc Toberoff confirmed on Monday, despite the company reaffirming that its nonprofit parent will retain control over its for-profit arm.

OpenAI, co-founded by Musk, had recently proposed a governance plan that maintains its nonprofit entity’s control over its for-profit operations and gives it a significant shareholder position. However, Musk’s legal team claims the move is superficial and insufficient.

“Nothing in today’s announcement changes the fact that OpenAI will still be developing closed-source AI for the benefit of [CEO Sam] Altman, his investors, and Microsoft,” said Toberoff. He criticized the plan for lacking transparency, particularly regarding the nonprofit’s diluted stake in the for-profit venture.

Musk, who has grown increasingly critical of OpenAI, accuses the company of abandoning its original mission of open-source development for public benefit. His lawsuit aims to block what he describes as a corporate shift toward private enrichment, particularly in favor of Microsoft, a key investor and partner.

OpenAI dismissed Musk’s lawsuit as meritless, with a company spokesperson stating, “Elon continuing with his baseless lawsuit only proves that it was always a bad-faith attempt to slow us down.”

The case is expected to proceed to jury trial in March 2026. It has drawn wide attention from other tech leaders and AI researchers, including Meta and Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI,” who have raised concerns about the implications of powerful AI being developed under private control without sufficient regulatory oversight.