Microsoft's AI Chief Signals Independence from OpenAI with Superintelligence Push

Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft's AI chief, has made it clear in recent interviews that the company is charting an independent course toward superintelligence. While he insists there's no formal breakup with OpenAI, Microsoft updated their contract in October to allow both sides to pursue AGI separately. The move effectively frees Microsoft from relying solely on OpenAI's models. Suleyman is now leading a new Superintelligence team and has released seven new models across modalities. He told The Verge that the goal is to get Microsoft into the conversation as one of the top four AI labs worldwide, alongside Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Anthropic. He emphasized that Microsoft must prove it can build everything from the ground up rather than just modify third-party IP.

Despite the competitive shift, Suleyman maintained a diplomatic tone, calling the partnership with OpenAI one of the most successful in history. He acknowledged that OpenAI will remain a partner for years but stressed that long-term dependency on a third party for the most valuable technology of all time—superintelligence—is untenable. Microsoft continues to benefit from OpenAI's output while building its own competitor. Suleyman believes superintelligence is just around the corner and that Microsoft's vast infrastructure positions it to lead the frontier. The strategy mirrors a classic Silicon Valley pivot: keep the old partner close while secretly building your own kingdom.