Microsoft and OpenAI are secretly discussing the possibility of an IPO for the company behind ChatGPT. Microsoft, as one of the early investors, owns 49% of OpenAI and aims to monetize the company, which was originally established as a non-profit. After 2030, Microsoft will no longer have rights to OpenAI's products. 'They primarily want to prevent that,' says investment specialist Justin Blekemolen from online broker LYNX.
The exact details of the discussions remain unclear, but it appears to involve restructuring OpenAI to eventually take the company, valued at hundreds of billions of dollars, public. Sources also report to the Financial Times that Microsoft might be willing to reduce its stake in exchange for guarantees of continued access to OpenAI's products post-2030.