A major player in the enterprise software market is making a strategic pivot. Microsoft has begun integrating its own artificial intelligence models, MAI (Microsoft AI), into Excel and Outlook applications, gradually phasing out solutions from OpenAI and Anthropic. This is not just a technical update—it is a signal of shifting priorities and aggressive cost optimization.
Currently, tens of thousands of requests per week are being processed directly within these applications using Microsoft's internal models. This involves business-critical tools where algorithms from OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude previously dominated. MAI's share of the total AI workload is still small, but the trend is clear: the Redmond-based giant is striving for technological independence.
The Economic Foundation of the Decision
The key factor is cost. Mustafa Suleyman, head of Microsoft's AI division, directly stated the intention to reduce spending on third-party models. The company has enjoyed preferential access to OpenAI's computing resources thanks to a long-standing partnership, but this period now appears to be ending. It is expected that after the discounts are lifted, API prices from industry leaders will rise, and Microsoft does not want to be subject to such pricing pressure.
"We pay Anthropic a lot of money—our task is to gradually reduce costs and completely eliminate unnecessary expenses," Suleyman emphasized. These words confirm that the transition to proprietary models is primarily a financial strategy, not just a desire to "do it our own way."
Large-Scale Optimization: From AI to Xbox
The process of replacing third-party AI models is just one part of a broader cost-cutting program. As early as May 2026, Microsoft began phasing out most internal licenses for Claude Code. Simultaneously, the company is conducting workforce reductions: 4,800 employees (2.1% of staff) will leave the company, with the main impact falling on the Xbox gaming division, where approximately 3,200 specialists will lose their jobs.
Against the backdrop of record investments in AI infrastructure, Microsoft is demonstrating a pragmatic approach: investing in the development of its own technologies while strictly cutting anything that does not provide direct economic benefit or align with long-term strategy.
Expert opinion: Microsoft's actions are a classic example of vertical integration in the era of AI market maturity. Initially, companies acquired the best external solutions to quickly establish positions. Now that the technology has become critical to business, they seek to control the entire value chain—from model to end product. This will inevitably lead to market fragmentation and increased competition among former partners. For startups like Anthropic and OpenAI, this is an alarming signal: their largest clients are becoming direct competitors.