OpenAI and Microsoft agreed to cap total revenue-sharing payments at $38 billion, U.S. digital news outlet The Information reported on Monday, citing a person with knowledge of the arrangement. The development comes as the two companies renegotiated a contract last month, making room for OpenAI to forge new partnerships with companies such as Amazon and Google. The payment cap could help OpenAI present a stronger long-term pitch to investors as it works toward a public offering, which some executives said could take place as soon as the end of this year, according to the report. Reuters could not immediately verify the report, and OpenAI and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Microsoft said in April that revenue-sharing payments from OpenAI would continue through 2030, at the same previously agreed percentage, subject to an overall cap. Microsoft’s early investment, totaling $13 billion since 2019, helped pave the way for OpenAI’s rise as an AI pioneer and powered growth at the Windows maker’s Azure cloud-computing business.