Microsoft Adds Anthropic’s AI Models to Copilot, Expands AI Options for Enterprises

Share on :

Prime Highlight

Microsoft has expanded its AI assistant Copilot to support Anthropic’s Claude models, giving business users a choice between OpenAI and Anthropic AI.
Claude Opus 4.1 supports complex reasoning and enterprise tasks, while Claude Sonnet 4 handles routine development, data processing, and content generation.

Key Facts

This expansion follows Microsoft’s recent integration of Anthropic models into Office 365 apps, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
The move reflects Microsoft’s strategy to diversify AI partnerships and provide enterprises with greater control and choice in AI tools.

Background

Microsoft has expanded its AI assistant Copilot by adding support for Anthropic’s Claude models, the company announced on Wednesday. Until now, Copilot mainly relied on OpenAI’s technology, but business users will now have the option to choose between OpenAI’s reasoning models and Anthropic’s latest AI.

The update gives Copilot business customers access to Claude Opus 4.1 and Claude Sonnet 4. Opus 4.1 is constructed to support complex reasoning, coding, and advanced system architecture planning, and can be used in high-end enterprise requirements. Sonnet 4, however, is more efficient with routine development activities, data processing at scale, and content generation, providing the flexibility to support daily business operations.

This move marks another step in Microsoft’s shift away from exclusive reliance on OpenAI. Just weeks ago, Microsoft signed an agreement to integrate Anthropic’s AI models into Office 365 applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

According to industry analysts, this is part of the overall direction that Microsoft is taking to diversify its AI partnerships as well as provide enterprises with increased control and choice. Providing various AI choices, Microsoft can reinforce the position of Copilot as a customizable enterprise research, development, and automation assistant.

The collaboration also underscores the increasing competition between OpenAI and Anthropic, which are competing to take control of the generative AI sector. Microsoft is establishing itself as a platform that has the potential to cross-link several AI ecosystems, as opposed to being a partner of one.