Microsoft has begun a large-scale replacement of OpenAI and Anthropic models with its own MAI (Microsoft AI) developments in key office applications — Excel and Outlook. This move aims to reduce dependence on expensive third-party AI providers.
The Redmond-based corporation, which previously actively integrated partner solutions, is now betting on sovereignty in the field of artificial intelligence. Already, tens of thousands of weekly requests in Excel and Outlook are processed exclusively by Microsoft's internal models, marking the beginning of a new era for Copilot and the entire M365 ecosystem.
Economic Necessity: Why Microsoft is Moving Away from Partners
The main driving force behind this decision is economics. Although Microsoft has long enjoyed preferential access to OpenAI's computing power thanks to a strategic partnership, the company's leadership, led by AI division head Mustafa Suleyman, is aware of the risks associated with upcoming price increases. After the cancellation of discounts for strategic partners, the costs of third-party models would become prohibitively high.
Significantly, back in June, Suleyman directly stated the intention to reduce spending on Anthropic. "We pay Anthropic a lot of money — our task is to gradually reduce these costs and completely eliminate unnecessary expenses," he noted, emphasizing that the transition to proprietary models is not a matter of prestige, but a matter of survival in conditions of fierce competition and the need to demonstrate sustainable profitability to shareholders.
Part of a Global Optimization
This step is only part of a large-scale cost-cutting program. Recall that Microsoft has already announced the layoff of 4,800 employees (2.1% of its workforce), with the main impact falling on the Xbox gaming division, where about 3,200 people will lose their jobs. Resources saved from workforce optimization and the abandonment of expensive third-party AI licenses (including the cancellation of most internal licenses for Claude Code back in May) are being redirected to the development of proprietary technologies.
Expert Opinion: Microsoft's decision is a clear signal for the entire enterprise-AI market. The era of mindless consumption of expensive API solutions is coming to an end. Major players understand that long-term sustainability and control over the technology stack are more important than temporary competitive advantages gained through the integration of third-party models. For OpenAI and Anthropic, this is a wake-up call that will force them to reconsider their pricing policies and seek new footholds.