<span>STORY: The partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI just got a little less cozy.</span><span>In a joint announcement on Monday, the two companies said Microsoft will no longer have exclusive access to OpenAI’s AI models and products.</span><span>The move frees up the ChatGPT creator to sell its AI technology to rival cloud platforms, including Amazon and Google.</span><span>The news sent Microsoft’s shares slightly lower, as some investors saw the shift as the company losing a valuable competitive advantage.</span><span>:: Microsoft</span><span>Microsoft emerged as an early winner in the AI race after its investment in OpenAI allowed it to quickly launch AI technology across its products.</span><span>But tensions have been rising between the two companies as OpenAI strikes cloud deals with rival firms.</span><span>The Financial Times in March reported that Microsoft was weighing legal action against Amazon and OpenAI over a $50 billion cloud deal that could breach its exclusive cloud partnership.</span><span>Under the reworked deal, Microsoft will remain OpenAI’s primary cloud partner and will hold a license to its intellectual property through 2032. Microsoft will also not pay a revenue share to OpenAI.</span><span>OpenAI products would also first ship on Microsoft’s Azure cloud-computing platform unless the software giant cannot or chooses not to roll out the technology.</span>
