Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says Bill Gates warned him that investing in OpenAI would be like setting $1 billion on fire

Core Insights - Microsoft's initial investment in OpenAI was perceived as a significant risk, despite its current success [1][2] - The company has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI since its first $1 billion investment in 2019 [1][9] - OpenAI has transformed into a major player in the AI industry, with over 800 million weekly users of ChatGPT [9] Investment Details - Microsoft invested $1 billion in OpenAI in 2019, which was a challenging decision requiring board approval [2] - Satya Nadella acknowledged that both he and Bill Gates had concerns about the investment, considering OpenAI's nonprofit status at the time [3][2] - The initial investment was made with a high-risk tolerance, aiming to explore the potential of AI [3] OpenAI's Growth - OpenAI gained widespread recognition after the release of ChatGPT in November 2022, achieving one million users within five days [9] - As of October 6, OpenAI's CEO reported that more than 800 million people use ChatGPT weekly [9] - Microsoft now holds a 27% stake in OpenAI's for-profit business, valued at approximately $135 billion following OpenAI's restructuring [9] Market Performance - Microsoft's shares have increased nearly 29% year to date, reflecting positive market sentiment [10]