The bosses of OpenAI and Microsoft talk to The Economist
jet off to Davos each year is to check in on important relationships, be they with critical suppliers or big-spending clients. This year many are wondering about their relationships with Microsoft and OpenAI , the startup behind ChatGPT. The companies are the world’s most prominent purveyors of artificial intelligence (AI), which has the business world giddy.
OpenAI exclusively licenses its technology to Microsoft. The software giant is busy injecting it into products from Word to Windows. The relationship between the two companies is also under scrutiny—including in recent weeks by EU and British antitrust regulators.
In November Sam Altman, OpenAI’s boss, was fired by his board, only to be reinstated days later. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief, whose company reportedly owns 49% of the startup, supported Mr Altman during the ordeal. The kerfuffle left many wondering about risks to what Mr Altman has called the “best bromance in tech".
When the pair sat down with The Economist in Davos on January 17th, they were upbeat and, for the most part, singing from the same hymn sheet. Their partnership is “great" and “unbelievable". They often remarked on how much they agree.
Watch the full recording of our interview with Sam Altman & Satya Nadella, and explore more of our coverage of AI One concurrence was that the tie-up boosts competition. “You can look at the vertically integrated option and you can look at our partnership, and you can decide which is more pro-competition," says Mr Altman. Another was that 2024 will be a big year for AI.
Microsoft’s huge bet on the technology this month helped it to dethrone Apple as the world’s biggest firm (see chart). It is closing in on a value of $3trn. Its next quarterly earnings will
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