As to what OpenAI wants from any agreement, that’s a little less clear, in part because it claims to be pursuing two seemingly contradictory goals: Making sure AI is developed ethically, while making as much profit as possible.
It’s also possible that its reorganization for an IPO might not pass muster with regulators. So, it’s in the company’s interest to come to a friendly deal with Microsoft, which would make it more likely regulators will approve the new structure.
This means that Microsoft is more likely than not to get what it wants from OpenAI — long-term access to the company’s most valuable technologies, which are worth far more to the company than cash. If that happens, it’s hard to imagine anyone toppling Microsoft as the world’s most valuable AI company.
