Microsoft's fastest-growing AI market is the one America fears most | TheBriefWire
Microsoft's fastest-growing AI market is the one America fears most
Published 20 June 2026 ยท tech
Microsoft has built a billion-dollar AI business in China, selling OpenAI's GPT models through Azure to firms like ByteDance, Tencent, Ant Group and Meituan, even
Microsoft has built a billion-dollar AI business in China, selling OpenAI's GPT models through Azure to firms like ByteDance, Tencent, Ant Group and Meituan, even as OpenAI and Anthropic refuse to. ByteDance alone spends over $1 billion a year, making it Microsoft's biggest AI customer. OpenAI has privately complained Microsoft isn't doing enough to stop Chinese firms copying its models, a process known as distillation.
Published: June 20, 2026 โข 1:14 PM IST ยท Updated: June 20, 2026 โข 4:02 PM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
Microsoft has built a billion-dollar AI business in China, selling OpenAI's GPT models through Azure to firms like ByteDance, Tencent, Ant Group and Meituan, even as OpenAI and Anthropic refuse to.
ByteDance alone spends over $1 billion a year, making it Microsoft's biggest AI customer.
OpenAI has privately complained Microsoft isn't doing enough to stop Chinese firms copying its models, a process known as distillation.