Microsoft adds support for Anthropic's AI models in Microsoft 365 apps

Microsoft has unveiled the integration of Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.2 models into its Microsoft 365 Copilot, complementing existing OpenAI models. This strategic move allows users of Microsoft Copilot Studio and Researcher to harness the capabilities of Anthropic’s cutting-edge AI technologies. Charles Lamanna, President of Business & Industry for Microsoft's Copilot team, shared insights on this development through a blog post. He emphasized, "Copilot will continue to leverage OpenAI's latest models, and now our customers can enjoy the flexibility of incorporating Anthropic models, starting with Researcher and when creating agents in Microsoft Copilot Studio." This expansion signifies Microsoft’s commitment to delivering top-tier AI innovations tailored to meet the diverse needs of businesses. Users will find that the Researcher agent can utilize Claude Opus 4.1 alongside OpenAI's reasoning models, enhancing their productivity. To access these new features, users can click on the ‘Try Claude’ button within the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. Once they opt to use Claude Opus 4.1, switching between OpenAI and Anthropic models becomes seamless. Additionally, Copilot Studio users can mix and match models from Anthropic, OpenAI, or any options available in the Azure Model Catalog for specialized tasks. This announcement comes on the heels of reports indicating that Microsoft has been favoring Claude models for GitHub Copilot paid users, with internal developers encouraged to utilize Claude Sonnet 4 in recent months. Despite being a significant backer of OpenAI, Microsoft appears to be reducing its dependency on the startup. In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella noted, "Our multi-model approach transcends mere choice; it’s designed to integrate the best AI from across the industry into Copilot, customized for work and every business's unique requirements." Nadella hinted that the availability of Anthropic models beyond current applications could increase in the near future.