The landscape of enterprise artificial intelligence shifted fundamentally today as OpenAI announced $110 billion in new funding from three of tech’s largest firms: $30 billion from SoftBank, $30 billion from Nvidia, and $50 billion from Amazon.

But while the former two players are providing money, OpenAI is going further with Amazon in a new direction, establishing an upcoming fully “Stateful Runtime Environment” on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s most used cloud environment.

This signals OpenAI’s and Amazon’s vision of the next phase of the AI economy — moving from chatbots to autonomous “AI coworkers” known as agents — and that this evolution requires a different architectural foundation than the one that built GPT-4.

For enterprise decision-makers, this announcement isn’t just a headline about massive capital; it is a technical roadmap for where the next generation of agentic intelligence will live and breathe.

And especially for those enterprises currently using AWS, it’s great news, giving them more options with a new runtime environment from OpenAI coming soon (the companies have yet to announce a precise timeline for when it will arrive).

The great divide between ‘stateless’ and ‘stateful’

At the heart of the new OpenAI-Amazon partnership is a technical distinction that will define developer workflows for the next decade: the difference between “stateless” and “stateful” environments.

To date, most developers have interacted with OpenAI through stateless APIs. In a stateless model, every request is an isolated event; the model has no “memory” of previous interactions unless the developer manually feeds the entire conversation history back into the prompt. OpenAI’s prior cloud partner and major investor, Microsoft Azure, remains the exclusive third-party cloud provider for these stateless APIs.

The newly announced Stateful Runtime Environment, by contrast, will be hosted on Amazon Bedrock — a paradigm shift.

This environment allows models to maintain persistent context, memory, and identity. Rather than a series of disconnected calls, the stateful environment enables “AI coworkers” to handle ongoing projects, remember prior work, and move seamlessly across different software tools and data sources.

As OpenAI notes on its website: “Now, instead of manually stitching together disconnected requests to make things work, your agents automatically execute complex steps with ‘working context’ that carries forward memory/history, tool and workflow state, environment use, and identity/permission boundaries.”

For builders of complex agents, this reduces the “plumbing” required to maintain context, as the infrastructure itself now handles the persistent state of the agent.

OpenAI Frontier and the AWS Integration

The vehicle for this stateful intelligence is OpenAI Frontier, an end-to-end platform designed to help enterprises build, deploy, and manage teams of AI agents, launched back in early February 2026.

Frontier is positioned as a solution to the “AI opportunity gap”—the disconnect between model capabilities and the ability of a business to actually put them into production.

Key features of the Frontier platform include:

• Shared Business Context: Connecting siloed data from CRMs, ticketing tools, and internal databases into a single semantic layer.

• Agent Execution Environment: A dependable space where agents can run code, use computer tools, and solve real-world problems.

• Built-in Governance: Every AI agent has a unique identity with explicit permissions and boundaries, allowing for use in regulated environments.

While the Frontier application itself will continue to be hosted on Microsoft Azure, AWS has been named the exclusive third-party cloud distribution provider for the platform.

This means that while the “engine” may sit on Azure, AWS customers will be able to access and manage these agentic workloads directly through Amazon Bedrock, integrated with AWS’s existing infrastructure services.

OpenAI opens the door to enterprises: how to register your interest in its upcoming new Stateful Runtime Environment on AWS

For now, OpenAI has launched a dedicated Enterprise Interest Portal on its website. This serves as the primary intake point for organizations looking to move past isolated pilots and into production-grade agentic workflows.

The portal is a structured “request for access” form where decision-makers provide:

• Firmographic Data: Basic details including company size (ranging from startups of 1–50 to large-scale enterprises with 20,000+ employees) and contact information.

• Business Needs Assessment: A dedicated field for leadership to outline specific business challenges and requirements for “AI coworkers”.

By submitting this form, enterprises signal their readiness to work directly with OpenAI and AWS teams to implement solutions like multi-system customer support, sales operations, and finance audits that require high-reliability state management.

Community and leadership reactions

The scale of the announcement was mirrored in the public statements from the key players on social media.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed excitement about the Amazon partnership, specifically highlighting the “stateful runtime environment” and the use of Amazon’s custom Trainium chips.

However, Altman was quick to clarify the boundaries of the deal: “Our stateless API will remain exclusive to Azure, and we will build out much more capacity with them”.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy emphasized the demand from his own customer base, stating, “We have lots of developers and companies eager to run services powered by OpenAI models on AWS”. He noted that the collaboration would “change what’s possible for customers building AI apps and agents”.

Early adopters have already begun to weigh in on the utility of the Frontier approach. Joe Park, EVP at State Farm, noted that the platform is helping the company accelerate its AI capabilities to “help millions plan ahead, protect what matters most, and recover faster”.

The enterprise decision: where to spend your dollars?

For CTOs and enterprise decision-makers, the OpenAI-Amazon-Microsoft triangle creates a new set of strategic choices. The decision of where to allocate budget now depends heavily on the specific use case:

1. For High-Volume, Standard Tasks: If your organization relies on standard API calls for content generation, summarization, or simple chat, Microsoft Azure remains the primary destination. These “stateless” calls are exclusive to Azure, even if they originate from an Amazon-linked collaboration.

2. For Complex, Long-Running Agents: If your goal is to build “AI coworkers” that require deep integration with AWS-hosted data and persistent memory across weeks of work, the AWS Stateful Runtime Environment is the clear choice.

3. For Custom Infrastructure: OpenAI has committed to consuming 2 gigawatts of AWS Trainium capacity to power Frontier and other advanced workloads. This suggests that enterprises looking for the most cost-efficient way to run OpenAI models at massive scale may find an advantage in the AWS-Trainium ecosystem.

Licensing, revenue and the Microsoft ‘safety net’

Despite the massive infusion of Amazon capital, the legal and financial ties between Microsoft and OpenAI remain remarkably rigid. A joint statement released by both companies clarified that their “commercial and revenue share relationship remains unchanged”.

Crucially, Microsoft continues to maintain its “exclusive license and access to intellectual property across OpenAI models and products”. Furthermore, Microsoft will receive a share of the revenue generated by the OpenAI-Amazon partnership.

This ensures that while OpenAI is diversifying its infrastructure, Microsoft remains the ultimate beneficiary of OpenAI’s commercial success, regardless of which cloud the compute actually runs on.

The definition of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) also remains a protected term in the Microsoft agreement. The contractual processes for determining when AGI has been reached—and the subsequent impact on commercial licensing—have not been altered by the Amazon deal.

Ultimately, OpenAI is positioning itself as more than a model or tool provider; it is an infrastructure player attempting to straddle the two largest clouds on Earth.

For the user, this means more choice and more specialized environments. For the enterprise, it means that the era of “one-size-fits-all” AI procurement is over.

The choice between Azure and AWS for OpenAI services is now a technical decision about the nature of the work itself: whether your AI needs to simply “think” (stateless) or to “remember and act” (stateful).

Other Wireless Chargers We Tested

There are a lot of wireless chargers. Here are a few more we like, but for one reason or another don’t warrant a place above.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Krafted Couch Wireless Charger for $52: I thought this wireless charger that’s designed to be draped over the arm of your couch was a great idea when I saw it, but the ridges failed to keep it in place on my velvety couch, so it kept slipping down the side. The silicone finish with the Krafted logo is also a bit ugly. It’s just a silicone mat with a magnetic charger inside, though there is a fairly generous 6.6-foot (2-meter) cable, and it is Qi2 rated. If you’re always rooting around for a charger and one of the colors blends well with your furniture, it might be a good solution for you.

Einova Eggtronic Charging Stone for $70: Made with 100 percent solid marble or stone—you can choose from a variety. Every single pick in this guide looks very much like a wireless charger, but I’ve had visiting friends ask if this one is a drink coaster. (I’m still figuring out whether that’s a good or bad thing.) It has zero LEDs, perfect for bedrooms; just try to hide the cable to truly make it blend into your home. We recommend putting a case on your phone when using it with this charger, as there’s a risk of scuffing up the back with these harder surfaces.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Baseus Nomos 5-in-1 Charging Station for $100: If you liked the PicoGo W2 above but need more gadget-charging power, this 5-in-1 could be worth a look. It also has a tilting pad and retractable USB-C cable, but adds two more USB-C ports and one USB-A, along with a stats-filled display. It’s perfect for your desktop. I also tried and quite liked the Baseus Nomos 8-in-1 Magnetic Charging Station ($70), which combines a similar folding Qi2 pad with three US AC outlets, three USB-C ports, and one USB-A.

Rapport London Formula Wireless Charging Tray for $475: Yes, this is an obscene price for a Qi wireless charger. You can probably make a version for a fraction of the cost. But Rapport’s build quality is quite nice, with a lacquered grey box and a soft-touch fabric to keep your watches and phone scratch-free. It reliably recharged several Android phones without making them too warm, all while offering storage for a few watches. It’s attractive, but you have to have cash to burn at this price.

iOttie iOS Wireless Duo for $50: This dual-charging system looks pretty—I like the fabric-wrapped stand—and you can charge another device on the rubberized charging pad next to it. The stand can be used in portrait or landscape, though in the latter orientation it’ll block the pad. I use the pad to top up my wireless earbuds, but I wouldn’t use this iOttie on a nightstand, because the LED on the front can be glaring. A cable and adapter are included, which makes it a good value. It can charge Pixel phones at up to 15 watts, iPhones at 7.5 watts, and other Android phones at 10 watts.

Journey Alti Play Performance Desk Mat for $120: This is a desk mat that doubles as a wireless charging pad. On the left side is a plasticky rectangle with a Qi2 magnetic puck for your smartphone. Above it is a little area to charge wireless earbuds (5 watts). Naturally, there’s RGB all over, and there are two buttons you can press to cycle through patterns and colors. It’s a smart-looking system, though the quality of the actual mat leaves a bit to be desired. I didn’t have issues gliding my mouse on it, and it stays put thanks to the rubber underside, but I just didn’t like the look and feel of the Lycra surface. Journey has some other versions of this mat that use different materials, so take a look if you like the overall aesthetic.

Courant Catch:2 Essentials for $75: Wireless chargers should look nice. You shouldn’t settle for anything less! This Courant dual charger oozes luxury with its Belgian linen-wrapped surface (especially in the camel color). I’ve used it by my front door to recharge my partner’s and my wireless earbuds for two years. The rubber feet prevent it from shifting around, but even if there are five coils in this pad, you should try to be precise when you put your device down to charge and make sure the LED lights up to double-check. It comes with a color-matching USB-C cable.

Photograph: Simon Hill

Zens Liberty Wireless Charger for $150: I tested the Glass Edition of this wireless charging pad, and it looks stunning with the 16 overlapping copper coils on display (the standard version has a woolen fabric top). It can charge two devices simultaneously at up to 15 watts apiece, and there’s an optional Apple Watch add-on ($19). As stylish as it is, the price is too high. Because you can see the coils, placement is never an issue, but it’s a bulky charger; the fan is audible at times, and while I had no problem charging my iPhone or AirPods, my Pixel 6 Pro got very warm on this pad.

Xiaomi Mi 80-W Wireless Charging Stand for $50: By far the fastest wireless charger we have tested, this stand is only worth considering for Xiaomi phones (it seems to charge most other phones at 10 watts or below). I tested with the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, which tops out at 50 watts (some Xiaomi models can go higher). The unusual sail shape combines a white triangular section with a clear acrylic base that has a subtle groove to hold your phone in place and a gap underneath for the exhaust grill from the noisy fan. The USB-C port and LED indicator are on the back.

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The snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and I can almost smell the springtime ahead. Soon, we’ll be cruising around town on ebikes and electric scooters instead of burning fossil fuels. For now, the weather hasn’t quite caught up, which is great for markdowns. Many of the best electric scooters are still seeing significant discounts. If you’ve been thinking about buying one, now’s the best time: prices are low, and sunny commuting days are just ahead.

Gear editor Julian Chokkattu has spent five years testing more than 45 electric scooters. These are his top picks that are also on sale right now.

Apollo Go for $849 ($450 Off)

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

This is Gear editor Julian Chokkattu’s favorite scooter. The riding experience is powerful and smooth, thanks to its dual 350-watt motors and solid front and rear suspensions. The speed maxes out at 28 miles per hour (mph), which doesn’t make it the fastest scooter on the market, but it has a good range. (Chokkattu is a very tall man and was able to travel 15 miles on a single charge at 15 mph.) Other Apollo features he appreciates: turn signals, a dot display, a bell, along with a headlight and an LED strip for extra visibility.

Apollo Phantom 2.0 for $2099 ($900 Off)

The Apollo Phantom 2.0 maxes out at 44 mph, with plenty of power from its dual 1,750-watt motors. It’s a gorgeous scooter, designed with 11-inch self-healing tubeless tires and a dual-spring suspension system for a smooth riding experience. But with great power comes great weight. At 102 pounds, the Phantom 2.0 is the heaviest electric scooter Chokkattu has tested, so I would only recommend this purchase if you don’t live in a walkup and/or have a garage.

More Discounted Electric Scooters

Traveling typically necessitates traveling light, so a mouse that adds bulk or requires constant charging can be a real hassle. Logitech’s G309 Lightspeed, priced at $49.99 (was $90), avoids these concerns by clever engineering, allowing it to function for hours on a single AA battery while being heavy enough to feel substantial in your hands.

You can even remove the battery entirely and use Logitech’s PowerPlay charging mat, which costs a little more but reduces the weight to 68g. That’s the type of lightness that a few dedicated gamers seek, without losing usability.

Battery concerns vanish in both setups, as one AA provides a whopping 300 hours of continuous wireless use in the rapid Lightspeed mode, or over 600 hours in the slower but still adequate Bluetooth mode. Most people won’t have to alter it in months, whether they play games every day or merely browse. If you’re travelling, you may either bring an extra AA battery or utilize Bluetooth and store the wireless receiver neatly inside the mouse to avoid losing it in transit.

The performance is also strong, as the HERO 25K sensor tracks your movements well even at high speeds of up to 25,600 DPI, and it does so without any fancy (and obnoxious) smoothing or acceleration. Clicks are nice and sharp with the optical Lightforce switches, a bit of a blend of the best of both worlds, so whether you’re gaming or performing precise work, you’ll get a rapid and solid reaction. There are also six customizable buttons for creating shortcuts or simplifying tasks, and the symmetrical design fits well in a variety of hands.

It’s also built tough, with the mouse being approximately 4.7 x 2.5 inches, and the design is simply utilitarian enough to get the job done. At around $49.99, it’s a really robust wireless gaming mouse without the expensive price tag.