Microsoft is set to integrate Anthropic’s AI into its Office 365 apps, according to The Information, which cites two sources. This means Anthropic’s technology will power new features in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint alongside OpenAI’s, signaling the end of Microsoft’s exclusive dependence on the ChatGPT maker.
The shift reflects Microsoft’s broader strategy to diversify its AI partnerships amid growing tensions with OpenAI, which has been developing its own infrastructure and even exploring a potential LinkedIn rival.
The deal with Anthropic comes as Microsoft negotiates a new agreement with OpenAI following its planned for-profit restructuring. However, The Information notes this move isn’t just a bargaining chip — Microsoft executives reportedly believe Anthropic’s latest model, Claude Sonnet 4, outperforms OpenAI’s in some areas, such as designing visually appealing PowerPoint slides.
This isn’t Microsoft’s first step away from exclusivity. While OpenAI remains the default model, GitHub Copilot already offers access to Anthropic’s Claude and xAI’s Grok. Microsoft has also started building in-house capabilities, introducing its first two models — MAI-Voice-1 and MAI-1-preview — to reduce reliance on external providers.
Meanwhile, OpenAI is also seeking independence from Microsoft. The AI company recently launched a jobs platform aimed at competing with LinkedIn, and according to The Financial Times, it plans to begin mass-producing AI chips with Broadcom in 2026. This would allow OpenAI to handle training and inference on its own hardware rather than relying entirely on Microsoft Azure.
“As we’ve said, OpenAI will continue to be our partner on frontier models, and we remain committed to our long-term partnership.
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