[lucubratory]

Microsoft already signed that deal with OpenAI, they can't break contract even if they did want to take an absolutely massive bet that the venture capital CEO and President can rebuild the technical infrastructure and acumen housed at OpenAI. OpenAI can replace Sam Altman and some of his newer hires, they probably can't replace Ilya Sutskever.

[toomuchtodo]

Microsoft could unilaterally term the OpenAI agreement and let OpenAI fight them in court due to this substantial and material event. If OpenAI doesn’t have the cash on hand to survive the legal fight, the non profit dies eventually when they exhaust their resources.

OpenAI only had resources because of Microsoft, and they bit the hand that feeds them.

[KeplerBoy]

Microsoft is free to sign contracts with multiple entities at a time. I guess we'll see.

[lucubratory]

That's true. It would be a pretty huge bet to invest billions more dollars in an uncertain startup when they already have an AI provider that is guaranteed to be significantly technologically ahead of whatever Sam can pull together for at least several years in the future.