OpenAI Executive Considers Antitrust Allegations Against Microsoft

OpenAI, reportedly considering legal steps against Microsoft (photo: dock. pexels)

JAKARTA - OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is reportedly considering legal action against Microsoft, its main investor, over alleged anti-competitive behavior (antitrust).

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Monday, June 16, a number of OpenAI executives even reviewed the possibility of submitting a request for a review of their contracts with Microsoft to federal regulators, including launching a public campaign on this issue.

The move has the potential to shake up one of the most influential technological partnerships in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) which is growing rapidly.

OpenAI currently requires approval from Microsoft to complete the transition of its organizational structure to public-benefit corporation (public benefit-based company). However, according to internal sources, negotiations between the two companies have been going on for months without a final agreement.

It was also reported that OpenAI and Microsoft are discussing revisions to Microsoft's investment provisions, including the amount of share ownership the tech giant will have in the future.

Separately, The Information media revealed that OpenAI wants Microsoft to hold 33% of its shares in the restructured unit, in exchange for relinquishing the right to future profits. OpenAI also wants to change the clause that gives Microsoft exclusive rights to become the only cloud service provider for OpenAI AI models.

However, Microsoft has yet to approve the new requirements proposed by OpenAI, and is said to have asked for additional concessions from the startup.

"We are still discussing and remain optimistic that we can continue to build together for the coming years," the two companies said in a joint statement quoted by VOI from Reuters.

For information, Microsoft has started investing in OpenAI since 2019 by injecting USD 1 billion (RP 16.3 trillion) to support the development of AI technology on its Azure cloud computing platform.

However, in recent times, OpenAI has begun to look for ways to reduce dependence on Microsoft. One of these efforts is OpenAI's plan to add Alphabet's Google Cloud service to meet Alphabet's growing computing power needs.

These measures indicate potential friction in the relationship between two major players in the global AI landscape, amid the increasingly sharp spotlight of regulators over the dominance of tech giants.