- OpenAI, founded in 2015, is a U.S.-based research organisation focused on developing and promoting friendly AI for the benefit of all humanity. Microsoft’s first investment of $1 billion in this startup in 2019 became known as OpenAI launched ChatGPT, which set off a boom in chatbot research and development.
- Microsoft isn’t just opening up its rich wallet for OpenAI, it’s also the exclusive provider of computing power for OpenAI’s research, products, and developer programming interfaces.
- Microsoft is integrating the technology into its Bing search engine, sales and marketing software, GitHub coding tools, Microsoft 365 productivity bundle, and Azure cloud. Michael Turrin is an analyst at Wells Fargo.
The partnership between OpenAI and Microsoft represents a collaboration between two major players in the AI and technology sectors, combining OpenAI’s expertise in AI research and ethics with Microsoft’s vast resources, infrastructure, and market reach.
OpenAI and Microsoft partnership
OpenAI, founded in 2015, is a U.S.-based research organisation focused on developing and promoting friendly AI for the benefit of all humanity. OpenAI conducts cutting-edge research in AI and machine learning, with a strong emphasis on ethics, safety, and transparency. In November last year, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, which set off a boom in chatbot research and development.
Microsoft, founded in 1975, is a global technology company renowned for its software products, cloud services, and hardware devices. Microsoft has been a leader in the technology industry, driving innovations in operating systems, productivity software, gaming, and cloud computing.
Microsoft first invested $1 billion in startup OpenAI in 2019, a deal that became known as artificial intelligence technology became hot. Nowadays, Microsoft’s cumulative investment in OpenAI has reportedly grown to $13 billion, and the startup’s valuation has reached about $29 billion.
Also read: Microsoft, OpenAI plot US$100 billion Stargate AI supercomputer
Microsoft isn’t just opening up its rich wallet for OpenAI, it’s also the exclusive provider of computing power for OpenAI’s research, products, and developer programming interfaces.
Startups and multinationals, including Microsoft, are rushing to integrate their products with OpenAI, which means a lot of workloads will run on Microsoft’s cloud servers.
Microsoft is integrating the technology into its Bing search engine, sales and marketing software, GitHub coding tools, Microsoft 365 productivity bundle, and Azure cloud. Michael Turrin is an analyst at Wells Fargo. All of this could bring Microsoft more than $30 billion in new annual revenue, with about half of that coming from Azure.
Global partnerships contributing to AI advancement
In addition to the collaboration between OpenAI and Microsoft, there is a concerted effort taking place across sectors and regions in the AI industry to advance AI technology, contributing to advancing AI technology while addressing ethical, regulatory, and societal considerations.
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Google established an AI research centre in Africa, partnering with local universities and institutions to promote AI research and talent development in the region. This initiative aims to address specific challenges and opportunities for AI in Africa while fostering collaboration with global experts.
The AI for Good Global Summit, organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other partners, brings together global stakeholders to discuss and collaborate on using AI for social good. This partnership involves governments, NGOs, academia, and industry to explore AI solutions for challenges such as healthcare, education, and sustainability.
The European Union launched the European AI Alliance, bringing together stakeholders from across Europe to discuss AI policy, ethics, and innovation. This partnership involves governments, industry leaders, researchers, and civil society to develop a common vision for AI development and deployment in Europe.
Various global organisations, such as the Partnership on AI, collaborate on AI ethics and governance initiatives. These partnerships involve technology companies, advocacy groups, and academia to develop ethical guidelines, best practices, and governance frameworks for responsible AI development and use.
