If (a big if) there is a deal with Softie, I am certain they have dictated how it will be announced and when.
And I am just as certain that there is a very very specific reason for the change in TS' updates and promo pieces from "Neom IS talking with MSFT and GOOG" to "MAYBE Neom is talking with MSFT and/or GOOG").
In any event, the prior formulation he used very likely creates serious problems for him. Either he actually knew something and talked about it or he was just pretending to know something.
In any case, I'm a bit surprised that such a high-profile guy would not have been a bit more circumspect.