Microsoft Diversifies AI Partnerships: Integrates Anthropic Models into Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft embraces OpenAI rival Anthropic to improve Microsoft 365 apps

Microsoft is bringing Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 AI models to its Microsoft 365 Copilot today. It's a big move that expands model choice beyond just OpenAI's range of models in Microsoft 365 Copilot, and it will allow Microsoft's customers to access Anthropic models in Researcher and Microsoft Copilot Studio. "Copilot will continue to be powered by OpenAI's latest models, and now our customers will have the flexibility to use Anthropic models too -- starting in Researcher or when building agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio," explains Charles Lamanna, president of Microsoft's business and industry Copilot team. "The addition of Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 advances our commitment to bring the best AI innovation from across the industry to Microsoft 365 Copilot, tuned for work and tailored to your business needs." Microsoft's Researcher agent can now use OpenAI's deep reasoning models or Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.1. Researcher users will see a "Try Claude" button at the top of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app that provides access to Opus 4.1 instead of OpenAI's models. "Once you opt-in, you'll be able to switch between OpenAI and Anthropic models in Researcher with ease," Lamanna says. Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 will also be available as model options in Copilot Studio, Microsoft's platform for building AI agents. "With this launch, you can build, orchestrate, and manage agents powered by Anthropic models for deep reasoning, workflow automation, and flexible agentic tasks," Lamanna explains. You'll also be able to mix which models are used for specific tasks, with options from Anthropic, OpenAI, and other models in Azure's model catalog. Claude in Researcher is rolling out today via the Frontier program to Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed customers who decide to opt in. Copilot Studio users can also opt in to get access to Claude. Interestingly, Anthropic's AI models will still be hosted on Amazon Web Services, Microsoft's main cloud rival. Microsoft accesses Claude via the Anthropic API, just like any other developer. Microsoft previously struck a deal with xAI to host Grok 3 models on Azure, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a similar arrangement with Anthropic's models on Azure soon. Microsoft's announcement of Anthropic models in Microsoft 365 Copilot arrives just a week after the company started favoring Anthropic over OpenAI for Visual Studio Code. GitHub Copilot paid users now "primarily rely on Claude Sonnet 4" when using the Visual Studio Code editor's new automatic AI model selection. Reports have also suggested that Microsoft will use Anthropic's AI models in Excel and PowerPoint soon, after finding they outperformed OpenAI's own models. "This is just the beginning -- we're committed to delivering model innovation at speed," Lamanna teases. "Stay tuned: Anthropic models will bring even more powerful experiences to Microsoft 365 Copilot."

Microsoft adds Anthropic AI model to Copilot assistant, diversifying from OpenAI

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks during an event celebrating Microsoft's 50th anniversary in Redmond, Wash., on April 4, 2025. Microsoft is the lead investor in OpenAI and has long been the artificial intelligence startup's key cloud partner. But in the latest sign that AI relationships are getting complicated, Microsoft is beginning to use more technology from OpenAI rival Anthropic. The software giant said Wednesday that it's starting to draw on an AI model from Anthropic to answer some queries in the Microsoft 365 Copilot assistant for commercial clients. The effort represents another step toward diversification in generative AI for Microsoft, which has mainly relied on OpenAI models for artificial intelligence features in Bing, Windows and other products. As part of a strategic partnership, Microsoft has invested more than $13 billion in OpenAI, and OpenAI operates its models in the Azure cloud, among other places. OpenAI has been busy expanding its roster of high-powered partners. In recent weeks, the company has disclosed that it plans to spend $300 billion with Oracle, and it's forged a $10 billion agreement with chip designer Broadcom. This week, chipmaker Nvidia said it will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI as part of a joint effort to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on new data centers. Microsoft and OpenAI remain close, but their arrangement is changing. Last year, Microsoft said it was allowing software engineers to get coding help from Anthropic and Google models in the GitHub Copilot Chat assistant, and not just from OpenAI. Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, was recently valued by investors at $183 billion. Microsoft remains the exclusive cloud supplier for OpenAI's programming interface that third-party applications rely on. Anthropic's model is coming first to Researcher, an agent for Microsoft 365 Copilot that can gather and analyze information and generate reports. Employees at organizations enrolled in Microsoft's Frontier program, which provides early access to AI features, can now choose to use Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.1 reasoning model, a type of model that's designed to break down complex tasks, as an alternative to OpenAI's competitive offering in Researcher. "And stay tuned: Anthropic models will bring even more powerful experiences to Microsoft 365 Copilot," Charles Lamanna, Microsoft's president of business and industry Copilot, wrote in a blog post. Corporate users can now opt to tap Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 when building their own AI agents with Microsoft's Copilot Studio tool. Administrators must enable Anthropic models before employees can use them. The models run in the Amazon and Google clouds. Their use is subject to Anthropic's terms and conditions, Lamanna wrote. In addition to incorporating large language models from more companies, Microsoft has started testing MAI-1-preview, which it built in-house. "As AI becomes more capable and agentic, models themselves become more of a commodity," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote in an October LinkedIn post. Last year, Microsoft identified OpenAI and Anthropic as competitors in AI products. The Information reported on Microsoft's Copilot plans with Anthropic earlier in September. Copilot is key to Microsoft's AI strategy. "It continues to be rolled out among enterprises in phases," analysts at KeyBanc wrote in a July note to clients. The analysts, who recommend holding the stock, wrote that based on an "industry check," about 60% of customers are "implementing Copilot for just 10% of their 365 user base," and just 4% roll it out for every user.

Microsoft brings Anthropic AI models to 365 Copilot, diversifies beyond OpenAI - The Economic Times

Microsoft said on Wednesday it will integrate artificial intelligence models from Anthropic into its Copilot assistant, signaling the software giant's push to reduce dependence on its high-profile partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. While Copilot will remain powered by OpenAI's latest models, users will be able to select Anthropic models, Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1, in Copilot's AI-powered reasoning agent "Researcher," as well as when developing agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio. Starting Wednesday, users who opt in to try Claude can switch between OpenAI and Anthropic models in Researcher, said Charles Lamanna, president of Microsoft's business and industry Copilot operations. The move marks a shift for Microsoft Copilot, which has been primarily using OpenAI for the new AI features across its suite of applications like Word and Outlook. Microsoft, a key financial backer for OpenAI, has been seeking to reduce its reliance on the startup and is developing its own AI models, while also integrating models from China's DeepSeek into its Azure cloud platform. Earlier this year, Microsoft said it would offer new AI models made by companies including Elon Musk's xAI and Meta Platforms hosted in its own data centers. Anthropic's AI models are primarily hosted on Amazon Web Services, a rival to Microsoft's cloud business.

Microsoft adds Anthropic AI models to Copilot assistant By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) will begin using artificial intelligence models from Anthropic to power its workplace AI assistant, adding a significant partner to its Copilot product that has primarily been driven by OpenAI. Starting Wednesday, business users of Microsoft's Copilot-branded AI assistant can toggle between OpenAI and Anthropic models for specific functions, including digital research assistance and building customized AI tools. This move represents another step toward Microsoft's diversification in generative AI. The tech giant has mainly relied on OpenAI models for artificial intelligence features. Company administrators must enable the Anthropic models before employees can use them. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Microsoft brings Anthropic AI models to 365 Copilot, diversifies beyond OpenAI

(Reuters) -Microsoft said on Wednesday it will integrate artificial intelligence models from Anthropic into its Copilot assistant, signaling the software giant's push to reduce dependence on its high-profile partnership with ChatGPT maker OpenAI. While Copilot will remain powered by OpenAI's latest models, users will be able to select Anthropic models, Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1, in Copilot's AI-powered reasoning agent "Researcher," as well as when developing agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio. Starting Wednesday, users who opt in to try Claude can switch between OpenAI and Anthropic models in Researcher, said Charles Lamanna, president of Microsoft's business and industry Copilot operations. The move marks a shift for Microsoft Copilot, which has been primarily using OpenAI for the new AI features across its suite of applications like Word and Outlook. Microsoft, a key financial backer for OpenAI, has been seeking to reduce its reliance on the startup and is developing its own AI models, while also integrating models from China's DeepSeek into its Azure cloud platform. Earlier this year, Microsoft said it would offer new AI models made by companies including Elon Musk's xAI and Meta Platforms hosted in its own data centers. Anthropic's AI models are primarily hosted on Amazon Web Services, a rival to Microsoft's cloud business. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)