Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Investing in OpenAI and Long-Term AI Success

We recently published a list of 10 AI News and Ratings Too Important to Miss. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stands against other AI news and ratings too important to miss.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving and is shaping industries and global competition. Companies are developing advanced models, governments are exploring policies to regulate AI, and concerns over security and innovation keep growing. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, discussions around its impact, ethical considerations, and future developments remain at the forefront.

OpenAI’s Vision for AI Agents and US Leadership in AI Development

Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, discussed the company’s AI advancements and its increasing engagement with the U.S. government. He highlighted the evolution of AI from simply answering queries to actively performing tasks in the real world and said that the current year is significant for agents. OpenAI recently introduced “Operator,” an AI agent capable of web-based tasks such as ordering groceries and filling out forms, with more agent-driven tools set to launch soon.

Weil also addressed concerns over China’s DeepSeek AI and acknowledged its technological improvements but emphasized that AI should align with democratic values rather than authoritarian ones. He stated that AI competition extends beyond companies to a broader U.S. and China rivalry. OpenAI has accused DeepSeek of intellectual property theft, but Weil maintained that the company’s focus remains on developing the most advanced models and ensuring U.S. leadership in AI.

Regarding infrastructure, Weil pointed to OpenAI’s $500 billion Stargate initiative, which is aimed at expanding U.S. energy and semiconductor capabilities to support AI growth. He also highlighted new government partnerships, including ChatGPT Gov, which is a secure AI model for federal agencies.

On the topic of open-source competition, Weil talked about OpenAI’s dual approach, which includes staying ahead with increasingly advanced models and building practical AI products that improve efficiency. He also acknowledged SoftBank’s role as a key partner in OpenAI’s expansion, especially in AI infrastructure investments.

For this article, we selected AI stocks by reviewing news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 900 hedge funds.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT): Investing in OpenAI and Long-Term AI Success

A development team working together to create the next version of Windows.

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 279

Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) provides AI-driven cloud, productivity, and business solutions, enhancing efficiency and security while making significant AI investments.

On January 30, JPMorgan analyst Mark Murphy said that the firm has a positive outlook on Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), maintaining an Overweight rating with a $465 price target. Despite concerns over near-term Azure growth, which is expected to fall below consensus, Microsoft’s FQ3 guidance for Azure growth is in line with predictions. The firm highlighted a significant boost in Commercial Bookings, driven by OpenAI’s large commitment, which should alleviate concerns about Microsoft’s relationship with OpenAI. The launch of DeepSeek R1 and Microsoft’s plans for CapEx moderation indicate long-term strategic investments. Overall, JPMorgan sees Microsoft as a structural share gainer, focusing on efficiency and investments in AI, security, and automation. Murphy noted:

“While MSFT continues to encounter some AI capacity constraints and scale motion speed bumps modestly restricting Azure growth, we see it planting the longer-term seeds for success across Security, Teams, Power Apps and now the forward-looking OpenAI / ChatGPT investments. In addition, limited headcount growth shows the commitment to efficiency and alignment of OpEx to the new environment. In summary, we continue to see Microsoft as a structural share gainer, while the fundamental trends of modernization and automation remain intact long-term.”

Overall, MSFT ranks 2nd on our list of AI news and ratings too important to miss. While we acknowledge the potential of MSFT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than MSFT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and Complete List of 59 AI Companies Under $2 Billion in Market Cap

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.