Microsoft 365 Copilot Expands AI Model Options
Traditionally, Microsoft 365 Copilot has been built on the foundation of OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs), largely owing to Microsoft’s substantial financial backing of the company over the past six years. However, in a notable shift, Microsoft has unveiled plans to diversify its model integrations within various components of the Microsoft 365 Copilot suite.
Introduction of Anthropic’s Models
Beginning today, Microsoft 365 Copilot will incorporate models from Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI. For example, the Researcher reasoning agent will now utilize either OpenAI’s advanced reasoning models or Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.1, designed for intricate multi-step research tasks.
Enhanced Flexibility in Copilot Studio
Moreover, within Copilot Studio, users can now select both Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1. This enhancement allows for sophisticated orchestration of various agentic tasks. Users can even mix and match specialized models from different providers to effectively accomplish multiple tasks.
Continuing Partnership with OpenAI
While this strategic shift is significant, it’s essential to understand that Microsoft 365 Copilot will maintain its core functionality through OpenAI’s models. Charles Lamanna, Microsoft’s President of Business & Industry Copilot, commented on this transition:
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. 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.
Operational Insights
It’s worth noting that while OpenAI’s models are hosted on Microsoft Azure, those from Anthropic are situated on AWS. Currently, Claude in Researcher is accessible to customers participating in the Frontier Program for Microsoft 365 Copilot. Other Anthropic models are also available for users who opt into this innovative experience. Furthermore, Microsoft aims to expand the use of Anthropic’s models across additional Microsoft 365 Copilot functionalities in the near future.
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