AWS OpenAI partnership expands as Amazon and OpenAI plan AI agents platform

Amazon announced an expanded partnership between Amazon Web Services and OpenAI to co-develop a platform for AI agents that can carry out computer-based work. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman outlined the plan as OpenAI reshapes its relationship with Microsoft, which is ending revenue-sharing arrangements tied to ChatGPT and Copilot.

Amazon said on Tuesday it was widening work with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. The move came a day after OpenAI signalled a looser financial link with Microsoft. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the expanded arrangement centred on Amazon Web Services. The aim was a new platform for AI agents that handle computer tasks.

Altman delivered the update in a prerecorded video at an Amazon event in San Francisco. At the same time, Altman was also appearing in federal court in Oakland. The appearance was for a civil trial filed by OpenAI co-founder Elon Musk. Amazon shared the partnership news during that event.

Amazon Web Services and OpenAI partnership details

Altman said the plan with Amazon’s cloud unit included building tools for AI agents together. The agents were described as software that can complete computer-based work for people. Altman also indicated AWS could provide required capacity for such systems. The remarks were part of the Tuesday announcement at the San Francisco gathering.

"These systems need to run reliably and robustly,\" Altman said. \"They need to be secure, they need to scale, and they need to fit in the environments where companies already run their businesses. And they need infrastructure that customers already trust for their most important workloads. Thats what makes this partnership with AWS so important.\"

Microsoft and OpenAI revenue share changes

On Monday, Microsoft said it would stop paying OpenAI a share of Microsoft revenue. That step added to efforts to separate the two companies’ close arrangement. OpenAI had depended on Microsoft cloud investments to develop systems behind ChatGPT. Microsoft used OpenAI technology to support its own AI assistant, Copilot.

OpenAI said on Monday it would keep paying Microsoft a share of OpenAI revenue through 2030. OpenAI added that the rate would be capped. Both companies also said Microsoft would stay OpenAI’s main cloud provider. OpenAI products would launch first on Azure, unless Microsoft cannot and chooses not to support needed capabilities.

OpenAI cloud partners and business customer focus

The relationship has changed as OpenAI shifted from a nonprofit start to a more commercial model. The San Francisco-based company is moving towards a Wall Street initial public offering. OpenAI has also reduced reliance on Microsoft by adding cloud partners. Those partners included Amazon, Google and Oracle.

OpenAI has been working to raise sales by targeting large business customers. OpenAI chief revenue officer Denise Dresser also spoke at the Amazon event. The comments came as OpenAI widened its AWS work. The event also followed the latest changes in OpenAI’s financial arrangement with Microsoft.

With inputs from PTI