OpenAI Ends Microsoft Exclusivity, Netomi Raises $110M

OpenAI Breaks Microsoft Exclusivity in Partnership Restructure

OpenAI and Microsoft announced Monday the end of their exclusive partnership that has defined the AI industry since 2019, allowing OpenAI to license its models to any cloud provider including Google and Amazon. According to CNBC, Microsoft will retain its 27% stake in OpenAI — worth approximately $225 billion — but will no longer receive revenue sharing payments from the ChatGPT maker.

The restructured deal caps OpenAI’s revenue share obligations to Microsoft at a fixed ceiling rather than continuing indefinitely. In exchange, OpenAI gains freedom to partner with Microsoft’s competitors, including the $500 billion Stargate data center project with Oracle and SoftBank that had created tensions between the companies.

Forbes reported that Microsoft shares dropped 1% in early trading following the announcement. The original 2019 agreement made Microsoft the exclusive seller of OpenAI’s technology to businesses and required OpenAI to run exclusively on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform.

Netomi Secures $110M as Enterprise AI Demand Surges

Netomi, a San Francisco-based AI customer service startup, raised $110 million in funding led by Accenture Ventures with participation from Adobe Ventures, according to VentureBeat. The round included backing from WndrCo, Silver Lake Waterman, NAVER Ventures, Metis Strategy, and Fin Capital.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, managing partner of WndrCo and DreamWorks co-founder, joined Netomi’s board as part of the investment. The startup’s early investors include OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis, and Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman.

The funding reflects growing competition in enterprise AI agents, where Sierra — led by former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor — raised $350 million at a $10 billion valuation in September 2025 and completed three acquisitions in 2026.

SoftBank Plans $100B AI Spinout for Potential US IPO

SoftBank is considering a $100 billion valuation for a new AI and robotics spinout that could pursue a US IPO, CNBC reported Thursday. The entity would focus on building data centers and developing robotics systems to improve AI infrastructure construction efficiency.

Founder Masayoshi Son has committed tens of billions to the AI sector in recent years, reflecting SoftBank’s increased appetite for AI investments. The potential spinout would represent one of the largest AI-focused public offerings if it proceeds.

The move comes as SoftBank seeks to capitalize on the AI infrastructure boom, with data center demand surging globally due to training and deployment requirements for large language models.

Indian Startups Draw Major Funding Despite Market Uncertainty

Snabbit, an Indian instant house-help startup, is close to raising $50-55 million at a $400 million valuation led by Susquehanna Venture Capital, TechCrunch reported. The round includes participation from Mirae Asset, FJ Labs, and existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners and Bertelsmann India Investments.

The Bengaluru-based company, founded in 2024, connects households with on-demand domestic help for cleaning and other services. The valuation represents a 122% jump from the $180 million valuation at which Snabbit raised $30 million in October 2025.

Snabbit’s rapid growth metrics:

• Over 1 million jobs completed in March 2026
• More than 10,000 daily jobs as of October 2025
• Total funding of $110 million including this round

Competitor Pronto is finalizing funding at a $200 million valuation, while market leader Urban Company reported crossing one million instant bookings in March.

What This Means

The OpenAI-Microsoft restructuring signals a maturation of the AI industry, where exclusive partnerships are giving way to multi-cloud strategies as companies seek greater flexibility and reduced dependency. OpenAI’s ability to work with Amazon and Google could accelerate AI adoption across cloud platforms while potentially reducing Microsoft’s competitive advantage in enterprise AI.

The $110 million Netomi round and SoftBank’s $100 billion AI spinout plans demonstrate continued investor appetite for enterprise AI applications, particularly those with proven business model traction rather than pure research plays. Meanwhile, strong funding activity in emerging markets like India suggests AI applications are finding product-market fit across diverse use cases and geographies.

These developments collectively point toward an AI ecosystem becoming more distributed and specialized, with platform-agnostic approaches gaining favor over vertically integrated models.

FAQ

Why did OpenAI end its Microsoft exclusivity?
OpenAI needed greater cloud infrastructure capacity than Microsoft could provide alone, particularly for projects like the $500 billion Stargate data center with Oracle and SoftBank. The exclusive arrangement limited OpenAI’s ability to scale and partner with other major cloud providers.

What does Microsoft retain from the partnership restructure?
Microsoft keeps its 27% stake in OpenAI worth approximately $225 billion and will continue receiving revenue share payments from OpenAI, but at a fixed ceiling rather than indefinitely. Microsoft also no longer pays revenue share to OpenAI.

How competitive is the enterprise AI agent market?
Extremely competitive, with Sierra valued at $10 billion after raising $350 million, Netomi securing $110 million, and multiple startups targeting customer service automation. The market is shifting from demo-stage products to solutions that work in complex enterprise environments.