The largest technology giant is taking a decisive step toward full autonomy in the field of artificial intelligence. According to my data, Microsoft has begun the process of replacing solutions from OpenAI and Anthropic with its own MAI (Microsoft AI) models in key Office products — Excel and Outlook. This is not just a technical update, but a strategic maneuver aimed at drastically reducing operational costs.
Currently, tens of thousands of weekly requests within these applications are already being processed exclusively by Microsoft's internal models. The team led by AI division head Mustafa Suleyman is clearly focused on breaking dependence on third-party vendors, whose rates could increase significantly after the cancellation of current partnership discounts.
The Economic Logic of the Giant
The decision to switch to proprietary models is not a whim but a harsh necessity. As early as June, Suleyman directly stated the intention to reduce spending on Anthropic, emphasizing that the company is paying them too much. The logic is simple: why overpay for an external API when you can use your own developments, especially considering Microsoft's scale with millions of corporate product users?
This move fits entirely into the overall course of strict cost-cutting. We have already seen Microsoft begin to abandon internal licenses for Claude Code. Now the process has moved into the practical implementation stage. The company is cutting budgets not only on the AI side but also in other divisions, including recent layoffs of 4,800 employees, of which 3,200 were in the Xbox gaming division.
Analyst's opinion: While the share of MAI models in the total volume of AI tasks is still small, this is only the beginning. We are witnessing a tectonic shift: Microsoft is ceasing to be just an integrator of external AI solutions and is transforming into a full-fledged developer. For the market, this means increased competition and a possible reduction in dependence on OpenAI, which in the long term could change the entire balance of power in the industry. Investors should closely monitor this trend — it signals the maturity of Microsoft's own technologies and their readiness for large-scale implementation.