OpenAI's open-weight models are now accessible on AWS for the first time, marking a major expansion in cloud-based AI deployment. Image Source: ChatGPT-4o
OpenAI Models Arrive on AWS for the First Time via Bedrock and SageMaker
Key Takeaways:
OpenAI’s models are now available on AWS for the first time via Bedrock and SageMaker AI.
The models include two open-weight reasoning models comparable to OpenAI’s proprietary o-series.
Amazon is offering the models with OpenAI’s approval, similar to its earlier deployment of DeepSeek-R1.
The move deepens competition with Microsoft Azure, currently OpenAI’s largest cloud partner.
The decision follows increased pressure on AWS to keep pace with rivals in the generative AI race.
OpenAI Models Launch on AWS for the First Time
In a strategic shift that broadens access to its technology, OpenAI has made its models available on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for the first time. The release includes two new open-weight reasoning models, which Amazon is offering through its Bedrock and SageMaker AI services, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Tuesday.
While the models are also downloadable from Hugging Face, AWS customers can now integrate them directly into Amazon’s AI ecosystem with OpenAI’s full knowledge and approval. Dmitry Pimenov, OpenAI’s product lead, confirmed the partnership in the announcement.
A spokesperson described the offering as similar to Amazon’s rollout of DeepSeek-R1 earlier this year, positioning it as part of AWS’s expanding model catalog.
A Competitive Move in the Cloud AI Arms Race
The partnership marks a milestone for AWS, which until now had no direct association with OpenAI, the world’s most high-profile model developer. The move positions AWS closer to the core of the generative AI ecosystem, long dominated by its chief rival Microsoft Azure.
AWS has historically supported OpenAI competitors such as Anthropic, the developer of Claude, and also offers models from Cohere, DeepSeek, Meta, Mistral, and its own in-house models. Customers can use Bedrock to build and deploy generative AI applications with a selection of third-party models, while SageMaker offers tools to train and analyze models.
Microsoft, although no longer the exclusive cloud provider for OpenAI since January, remains its most significant partner. The software giant is also releasing versions of the same two new OpenAI models, optimized for use on Windows devices.
Strategic Timing Amid Growing Pressure
The announcement follows increasing scrutiny of AWS’s position in the generative AI market. On Amazon’s recent quarterly earnings call, CEO Andy Jassy faced questions from analysts about how the company is lagging behind Microsoft and Google in cloud AI growth.
“I think the second player is about 65% of the size of AWS,” Jassy said, referring to Microsoft, in a pointed response to investor concerns about market share erosion.
At the same time, Oracle reported it had signed a $30 billion annual deal with OpenAI for data center services—a sum larger than OpenAI’s combined spend with all other cloud providers. The AWS deal, though smaller in scope, gives Amazon a long-sought foothold in OpenAI’s ecosystem.
Why It Matters for OpenAI
For OpenAI, the AWS deal provides a strategic counterbalance as the company reportedly renegotiates its long-term relationship with Microsoft. Offering its models on AWS, even on a limited basis, strengthens its leverage in cloud partnerships and expands reach among enterprise customers.
The models are released under the Apache 2.0 open source license, allowing widespread commercial use. This contrasts with Meta, which recently stated it may no longer open source future “superintelligence” models.
As Sam Altman widens OpenAI’s distribution, the AWS partnership simultaneously challenges Microsoft’s dominance, Amazon’s lag, and Meta’s open-source leadership.
Q&A: OpenAI on AWS
Q: What models did OpenAI release on AWS?
A: OpenAI released two open-weight reasoning models comparable in performance to its o-series.
Q: How are the models available to AWS users?
A: Through Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker AI, allowing for integration into hosted or custom AI apps.
Q: Is this the first time OpenAI models have been on AWS?
A: Yes. This marks the first official availability of OpenAI models via Amazon cloud services.
Q: Why is this significant for AWS?
A: It places AWS in direct alignment with OpenAI, countering previous exclusivity held by Microsoft Azure.
Q: What license are the models released under?
A: The models are released under the Apache 2.0 license, enabling open and commercial use.
What This Means
This partnership signals a new phase of cloud competition in generative AI. By making its models available on AWS, OpenAI expands beyond its reliance on Microsoft, gaining access to a broader enterprise customer base without compromising its open-weight strategy. It also gives OpenAI added leverage as it renegotiates terms with existing partners.
For AWS, the move is about more than model availability—it’s about reclaiming relevance. After months of criticism from analysts and comparisons to faster-growing rivals like Microsoft and Google, AWS now has a direct tie to the most talked-about AI company in the world. The partnership strengthens its platform, helps retain high-value customers, and shifts the narrative from “falling behind” to “back in the race.”
And for the broader industry, this development shows how open-weight models are becoming a critical front in cloud strategy. Rather than locking customers into one provider’s ecosystem, the future of enterprise AI may depend on flexibility, portability, and choice—values that partnerships like this one are starting to reinforce.
Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.