Since there's already a Microsoft-OpenAI thread on the front page and this article says even less than that one does, I suppose we can just stick with what we have for now:
But on other other side of a hypothetical situation spectrum, it could also mean something like "Our agreement with OpenAI provides us with robust fallback access to Source Code, Training recipes and Model data in escrow should a particular trigger situation happen."
“Full access to everything we need.” == “We have carefully crafted contractual agreements in place and a huge and very experienced legal department ready at a moment's notice to enforce them.”
Ultimately, that amounts to the same thing you said anyway.
"full access to everything" feels like a shot across the bow sending a very clear signal the new board should not attempt to limit access to rapid commercial exploitation of any research results emanating from OpenAI for whatever reason given, be it 'alignment', 'safety' or disproportionate exclusive leverage running afoul of OpenAI's original mission.
This statement is the absolute bare minimum they could have written. Terse, no marketing, straight to the point. Its nice for a change.
But given the usual verbiage / pomp-and-circumstance (etc. etc.) on typical announcements, getting something so short and simple like this just feels weird.
Definitely short, but I feel it is still ~80% marketing.
You could cut out:
> As you saw at Microsoft Ignite this week, we’re continuing to rapidly innovate for this era of AI, with over 100 announcements across the full tech stack from AI systems, models, and tools in Azure, to Copilot. Most importantly, we’re committed to delivering all of this to our customers while building for the future. [...] to deliver on our innovation agenda and an exciting product roadmap [...] Together, we will continue to deliver the meaningful benefits of this technology to the world.
And still keep the relevant info with just:
> We have a long-term agreement with OpenAI with full access to everything we need [...] and remain committed to our partnership, and to Mira and the team.
I think the statement is for investors to assure them that they have solid legal contracts with OpenAI that will carry on regardless of what happens in OpenAI's leadership.
Can you elaborate? Clearly MSFT has lot riding on the OpenAI wave and the PR statement looks more like a statement to the open AI board that there are signed agreements in place that MSFT expects to be honored. It seems to be a stretch to say MSFT itself is a reliability risk!
Microsoft was blindsided by OpenAI's ouster of CEO Sam Altman - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38312372