Musk v. Altman docs: Microsoft execs had reservations about funding OpenAI in 2018 but worried that withholding support could push OpenAI into Amazon's arms (Wired)

Microsoft executives faced a strategic dilemma in 2018 regarding OpenAI funding: while they had significant reservations about the investment, they feared that withholding support would drive OpenAI toward competing with Amazon, ultimately forcing a competitive choice rather than avoiding risk. This reveals how competitive dynamics and market consolidation pressures shape technology partnerships even when financial or operational concerns exist, highlighting the strategic importance of AI capabilities in corporate positioning. For IT leaders, this underscores that technology partnerships are often driven by defensive competitive positioning rather than pure merit, and that failing to invest in emerging capabilities can result in losing strategic influence and market advantage.