Simon Willison: Tracking the Full History of the Now-Deceased OpenAI-Microsoft AGI Clause
Simon Willison's Blog·medium signal
Simon Willison published a detailed historical analysis tracing the evolution of the OpenAI-Microsoft AGI clause from its inception through its elimination on April 27, 2026. The post documents how the clause was originally designed to protect against Microsoft gaining control of AGI technology, the independent panel mechanism that was supposed to determine AGI achievement, and how the clause became increasingly awkward as OpenAI's commercial ambitions grew. Essential context for understanding why this structural change matters.