OpenAI Reportedly Strikes Deal with Google Cloud to Ease ChatGPT Server Load

Just days after Satya Nadella said OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft is still strong, a new report suggests the ChatGPT maker is expanding its cloud ties beyond Redmond. According to Reuters, OpenAI has reached a deal with Google to use its cloud infrastructure.

The agreement would allow OpenAI to tap into Google Cloud’s servers for powering services like ChatGPT and Sora. The report cites three unnamed sources familiar with the matter and claims the deal was finalized in May after months of talks.

OpenAI turns to Google Cloud amid growing compute needs

OpenAI’s need for more servers has grown rapidly in recent months. Between the rollout of faster image generation via GPT-4o and mounting demand across platforms, the company has been pushing its infrastructure to the limit.

Back in May, Sam Altman even acknowledged the load, saying GPUs were “melting.” Just this week, ChatGPT was down for hours due to server issues.

While Microsoft remains OpenAI’s largest investor and primary cloud partner through Azure, this move signals that OpenAI is no longer relying on a single provider. The terms of the deal with Google have not been disclosed, and there’s no official word yet from either company.

What makes this all the more interesting is the fierce rivalry between the two companies. OpenAI and Google are racing to push out more capable models, reduce API costs, and secure partnerships across hardware and software ecosystems. Just last month, Google unveiled Gemini 2.5 Pro. OpenAI responded with its o3-pro model and an 80% API price cut.