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Emails Show Microsoft Wasn’t Impressed by OpenAI’s Early Work, but Wanted to Keep It From Amazon

Summary
Internal emails revealed during the Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman trial show Microsoft executives were initially skeptical about OpenAI achieving near-term AI breakthroughs. OpenAI requested hundreds of millions of dollars in discounted Azure computing power to support advanced AI and “Dota 2” research projects. Executives including Satya Nadella questioned whether OpenAI’s research would provide Microsoft with strategic or technological advantages. Despite doubts, Microsoft feared losing OpenAI to competitors like Amazon Web Services if it stopped supporting the startup. Within a few years, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, leading Microsoft to invest billions and deepen the partnership.

3 Articles

sherwood.newssherwood.news
Lean Left

Emails show Microsoft wasn’t impressed by OpenAI’s early work, but wanted to keep it from Amazon

OpenAI wanted further Azure computing discounts, but Microsoft didn’t think it was on the verge of a breakthrough....

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pcgamerpcgamer

Microsoft might be all-in on OpenAI now, but back in 2018 thought it was just 'motivated by a need to show how Al can crush humans'

"We don't want 'machines beating humans' and are not supportive of any push on this."

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DiarioBitcoinDiarioBitcoin

Emails Reveal Microsoft Doubted OpenAI in 2018, but Invested to Stop Amazon

In-house emails from 2018, revealed in the legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman, show that Microsoft was not convinced of OpenAI or its leadership, but still decided to move forward with the alliance for a key reason: preventing Amazon from taking the lead in the race for infrastructure and artificial intelligence business. *** Judicial documents indicate that Microsoft executives questioned OpenAI's technical roadmap and Sam Altman's a…

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DiarioBitcoin broke the news on Friday, May 8, 2026.
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