OpenAI is reportedly considering requesting a federal investigation into the terms of its contract with Microsoft, which are suspected of violating antitrust laws. A public communication campaign could also accompany this initiative, the newspaper says.

Such an escalation could weaken one of the most influential partnerships in the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. Since its initial $1bn investment in 2019, Microsoft has become a pillar of OpenAI's growth, hosting its models on its Azure cloud platform.

But the two companies are now struggling to agree on the terms of OpenAI's transformation into a "public-benefit corporation," a statutory change that requires Microsoft's formal approval. After several months of negotiations, no agreement has been reached.

According to The Information, OpenAI wants Microsoft to give up certain rights to future profits in exchange for a 33% stake in a new restructured entity. Sam Altman's group is also seeking to amend clauses that give Microsoft exclusive rights to host OpenAI's models on Azure.

Microsoft, for its part, has reportedly rejected OpenAI's proposed terms and is demanding further concessions in return.

"Discussions are ongoing and we remain optimistic about our desire to build together for years to come," the companies said in a joint statement sent to Reuters.

This renewed tension comes as OpenAI is actively exploring ways to reduce its dependence on Microsoft. In early June, Reuters revealed that the company was planning to integrate Google's (Alphabet) cloud services to meet its growing computing power needs.

As AI becomes a global strategic issue, this rift between two of the industry's leaders could reshape the industrial and regulatory landscape in the years to come.