OpenAI and Microsoft have hit back at Elon Musk’s criticism of Stargate, the new $500bn artificial intelligence infrastructure project hailed by Donald Trump as a “resounding declaration of confidence in America’s potential under a new president”.

Microsoft will no longer be the exclusive provider of new cloud computing capacity to OpenAI — a new twist in their relationship that clears the way for OpenAI to work with Oracle and others on the $500 billion Stargate AI project announced by the companies Tuesday with President Trump at the White House.

OpenAI's $500 billion investment in computing infrastructure changes its relationship with Microsoft. The tech giant will no longer be the ChatGPT maker's exclusive cloud partner for its sophisticated AI advances.

The software giant was previously the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI and now retains right of first refusal.

Microsoft, the largest investor in OpenAI and its principal cloud partner, is no longer the exclusive provider of computing capacity for the AI startup. OpenAI will now have the option to seek additional capacity from other providers,

Microsoft’s multi-year partnership with OpenAI is taking a new direction as the ChatGPT maker will no longer exclusively choose Microsoft Azure for new cloud capacity.

Microsoft has revised its agreement with OpenAI, allowing the AI company to partner with other cloud service providers (CSPs). However, Microsoft retains the Right of First Refusal (ROFR), giving it a priority to match any competing offers before OpenAI commits to other providers.