Microsoft executives' 2018 OpenAI funding emails shown in federal court
Updated
Updated · WIRED · May 8
Microsoft executives' 2018 OpenAI funding emails shown in federal court
12 articles · Updated · WIRED · May 8
At the Musk v Altman trial, emails involving Satya Nadella and 15 executives showed Microsoft balked at Sam Altman's request for $300m in Azure credits.
Executives doubted imminent AGI breakthroughs, feared OpenAI would defect to Amazon Web Services, and estimated the proposed support could cost Microsoft about $150m over several years.
Microsoft later invested $1bn after OpenAI created a for-profit arm and ultimately committed $13bn from 2019 to 2023; Nadella is due to testify on Monday.
After doubting OpenAI, why did Microsoft bet $13 billion on a partner it now shares with its biggest rival?
Musk’s lawsuit claims OpenAI sold its soul. Do these emails prove the price was simply fear of Amazon?