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The Microsoft-OpenAI Saga Continues as Copilot Enterprise Client Switches to ChatGPT
Key Takeaways
- The Microsoft-OpenAI partnership cools further as Amgen switches from Copilot to ChatGPT due to employee preference.
- Poor perception, OpenAI’s first-mover advantage, and internal struggles mean Microsoft is losing the battle.
- OpenAI wants to go public, but its contract with Microsoft until 2030 complicates matters.
Every day, there’s a new episode of the Microsoft-OpenAI drama.
In the latest installment of the tech saga, it’s being reported that biotech company Amgen has expanded its use of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, citing employee preference over Microsoft’s offering. This comes just a little over a year since the company signed up for a Microsoft Copilot subscription for 20K of its employees.
It now looks like OpenAI—which has received around $14B from Microsoft so far—is eating the lunch of its biggest investor.
Copilot’s 20M weekly users pales in comparison to OpenAI’s 500M as of March. The latter’s suite of ChatGPT products has also seen 3M paying business users during the same month, up from 2M in February.
Why People Prefer ChatGPT vs. Copilot
While Microsoft will invest $80B in AI this year, it seems it still has a long way to go before becoming ‘THE’ AI platform. In fact, when you talk to someone about AI, chances are that they think you’re referring to ChatGPT.
It may be anecdotal, but it does suggest that Microsoft has unwittingly built Copilot to be the grande to OpenAI’s venti. In other words, Satya Nadella’s organization created a product that was perceived as offering less value, so people chose OpenAI instead, believing it would give them more bang for their buck.
Part of the problem could be the fact that Copilot is a little too associated with Microsoft. This is good since Microsoft has a significant foothold in the enterprise market. Earlier this month, the company announced that 100K Barclays employees will begin using its Microsoft 365 product.
However, the close association between the AI and the company behind it might lead people to think that it only works on Windows and other Microsoft products.
This, of course, is incorrect because it’s available on any browser, as well as on Android and iOS. This confusion could be the reason why, for example, ChatGPT has over 500M downloads compared to Copilot’s 10M at the Google Play Store.
Then there’s OpenAI’s first-mover advantage, largely thanks to Microsoft’s investment. Workers have been using ChatGPT at home and in the office well before Microsoft came in and introduced Copilot on their work computers. It even led a Samsung employee to accidentally leak sensitive data to ChatGPT, causing the company to ban its use.
While some may argue that OpenAI’s first-mover advantage is no longer enough with the availability of other alternatives, it still has a significant lead, especially against Microsoft.
Then there’s Microsoft’s internal struggles, too. There have been reports of infighting and its continued struggles to deliver a product that can compete not only with OpenAI but also with the other players that have emerged more recently, including Anthropic and Google.
There’s No End in Sight to the Drama
Because of all the drama surrounding the two companies, Microsoft won’t let go of OpenAI that easily. Aside from being a major investor, the former has rights to OpenAI IP, which it uses in Copilot.
This puts the Sam Altman-led organization in a bind. It knows it needs to expand, so it partnered with rival Google to provide much-needed computing power. However, as a nonprofit, OpenAI must go public and become a for-profit company to expand further. This would require renegotiating its commercial agreement with Microsoft.
The two have yet to come to an agreement, particularly regarding how much equity Microsoft will receive when OpenAI goes public. The Redmond-based company is said to be willing to accept a smaller equity, granted that OpenAI will continue giving it access to future technologies beyond the expiry of their contract in 2030.
It remains to be seen how this all plays out. Given how complicated the companies’ relationship has become since 2019, there seems to be no fairytale ending in sight for now.
As technology continues to evolve—from the return of ‘dumbphones’ to faster and sleeker computers—seasoned tech journalist, Cedric Solidon, continues to dedicate himself to writing stories that inform, empower, and connect with readers across all levels of digital literacy. Read more
With 20 years of professional writing experience, this University of the Philippines Journalism graduate has carved out a niche as a trusted voice in tech media. Whether he’s breaking down the latest advancements in cybersecurity or explaining how silicon-carbon batteries can extend your phone’s battery life, his writing remains rooted in clarity, curiosity, and utility.
Long before he was writing for Techreport, HP, Citrix, SAP, Globe Telecom, CyberGhost VPN, and ExpressVPN, Cedric’s love for technology began at home courtesy of a Nintendo Family Computer and a stack of tech magazines.
Growing up, his days were often filled with sessions of Contra, Bomberman, Red Alert 2, and the criminally underrated Crusader: No Regret. But gaming wasn’t his only gateway to tech.
He devoured every T3, PCMag, and PC Gamer issue he could get his hands on, often reading them cover to cover. It wasn’t long before he explored the early web in IRC chatrooms, online forums, and fledgling tech blogs, soaking in every byte of knowledge from the late ’90s and early 2000s internet boom.
That fascination with tech didn’t just stick. It evolved into a full-blown calling.
After graduating with a degree in Journalism, he began his writing career at the dawn of Web 2.0. What started with small editorial roles and freelance gigs soon grew into a full-fledged career.
He has since collaborated with global tech leaders, lending his voice to content that bridges technical expertise with everyday usability. He’s also written annual reports for Globe Telecom and consumer-friendly guides for VPN companies like CyberGhost and ExpressVPN, empowering readers to understand the importance of digital privacy.
His versatility spans not just tech journalism but also technical writing. He once worked with a local tech company developing web and mobile apps for logistics firms, crafting documentation and communication materials that brought together user-friendliness with deep technical understanding. That experience sharpened his ability to break down dense, often jargon-heavy material into content that speaks clearly to both developers and decision-makers.
At the heart of his work lies a simple belief: technology should feel empowering, not intimidating. Even if the likes of smartphones and AI are now commonplace, he understands that there’s still a knowledge gap, especially when it comes to hardware or the real-world benefits of new tools. His writing hopes to help close that gap.
Cedric’s writing style reflects that mission. It’s friendly without being fluffy and informative without being overwhelming. Whether writing for seasoned IT professionals or casual readers curious about the latest gadgets, he focuses on how a piece of technology can improve our lives, boost our productivity, or make our work more efficient. That human-first approach makes his content feel more like a conversation than a technical manual.
As his writing career progresses, his passion for tech journalism remains as strong as ever. With the growing need for accessible, responsible tech communication, he sees his role not just as a journalist but as a guide who helps readers navigate a digital world that’s often as confusing as it is exciting.
From reviewing the latest devices to unpacking global tech trends, Cedric isn’t just reporting on the future; he’s helping to write it. Read less
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