If Microsoft doesn't believe that OpenAI will achieve AGI by 2030 or that there's a chance that OpenAI won't be the premiere AI company in four years, the deal looks less like a lose and more like they are buying their way out of a risky bet. On the other hand, if OpenAI does well, then Microsoft have a 27% stake in the company and that's not nothing.
This looks more like Microsoft ensuring that they'll win, regardless of how OpenAI fairs in the next four to six years.
This looks more like Microsoft ensuring that they'll win, regardless of how OpenAI fairs in the next four to six years.