Microsoft shifts to proprietary AI models to reduce costs
Microsoft is reportedly moving away from OpenAI and Anthropic AI models in favour of its own to lower operating costs. This comes despite the company's previous statements regarding the superiority of external models.
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Microsoft Corp. is gradually transitioning away from using the most advanced AI models from OpenAI Group PBC and Anthropic PBC. The company is instead reportedly focusing on its proprietary model family, Microsoft AI (MAI). This shift aims to reduce the high costs associated with using third-party models, according to a report from Bloomberg on 7 July 2026. A source confirms that tens of thousands of requests in applications such as Excel and Outlook are now handled by MAI models.
Key facts
”Microsoft Corp. is reportedly transitioning away from using OpenAI Group PBC’s and Anthropic PBC’s most advanced artificial intelligence models in favor of its own — increasingly leaning on the new Microsoft AI or MAI model family, despite publicly asserting that those models are”
”That’s according to a report today by Bloomberg, which cited a person familiar with the company’s AI strategy as saying that it has become increasingly concerned about the cost of using top-tier models from OpenAI and Anthropic.”
”Apparently, “tens of thousands of prompts” in platforms such as Excel and Outlook, which were previously routed through third-party models, are now being handled by Microsoft’s MAI models in an effort to save costs, the person said.”
Varför det spelar roll
The decision is based on Microsoft's increased concerns regarding the costs of running AI with state-of-the-art models from external providers. By integrating its own MAI models, Microsoft can optimise its AI infrastructure for cost-efficiency, even if these models were initially considered less sophisticated. This strategic shift marks an adjustment in how Microsoft balances performance with financial sustainability in its AI investment.
Vem påverkas
Microsoft and its customers are directly affected, as AI functionality in products like Excel and Outlook gradually shifts to internal systems. Developers within Microsoft's AI divisions are receiving an increased focus on the MAI platform. OpenAI and Anthropic may also be indirectly affected as a major customer reduces its reliance on their services. Users will likely notice no difference in functionality initially.
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Mer att veta
This report comes approximately one month after Microsoft unveiled seven new models within the MAI family, including its first reasoning model, MAI-Thinking 1. At the time, Microsoft emphasised MAI-Thinking 1's capability for high performance and efficiency with low token costs.
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