• Sam Altman and Satya Nadella discussed Microsoft’s investment terms, including future equity stake.
• Tensions exist, but Altman says partnership with Microsoft is “wonderfully good” overall.
• Altman praised Trump’s understanding of AI’s geopolitical, economic importance after talks.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed on a podcast that he held a productive call with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Monday to discuss their ongoing collaboration. Microsoft, a key investor in OpenAI, has been a vital partner, but recent reports suggest the two companies are renegotiating the terms of Microsoft’s investment, including its future equity stake in the AI startup.

In the middle of this month, Microsoft and OpenAI started talking to adjust the terms of their current collaborative financial policy. The controversial differences that involve the scope of the equity holding of Microsoft pose a risk of enforcing a pause in the negotiations, in case an agreement cannot be reached.

Despite these challenges, Altman emphasized the strength of their partnership, stating, “Obviously, in any deep partnership, there are points of tension and we certainly have those. But on the whole, it’s been like really wonderfully good for both companies.”

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Altman also highlighted a recent conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump about artificial intelligence, praising Trump’s grasp of AI’s geopolitical and economic significance.

In January, Trump announced Stargate, a $500 billion private-sector initiative for AI infrastructure, backed by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle.

Reflecting on his call with Nadella, Altman described it as “super nice” and repeated the mutual benefits of their collaboration, despite occasional friction. The discussions signal both companies’ commitment to navigating tensions while advancing AI innovation together.

As OpenAI continues to shape the AI landscape, its partnership with Microsoft remains pivotal, with ongoing talks likely to influence the future of both organizations.