Microsoft Corp. is transitioning away from using advanced AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic, leaning on its own Microsoft AI, or MAI, family to cut costs.
According to a Bloomberg report, the company is concerned about the expense of top-tier models. It is now routing "tens of thousands of prompts" in apps like Excel and Outlook through its own models, though this is still a fraction of its overall AI usage.
The move follows Microsoft's recent launch of seven new MAI models, including MAI-Thinking 1. The mid-sized model is designed for high performance and efficiency, with low token costs. In blind tests, it matched the coding capabilities of Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6.
The shift reflects a broader industry trend. Companies like Amazon, Meta, and Uber are all seeking to reduce AI spending as costs weigh on adopters. Some U.S. firms are even turning to more affordable Chinese models.
"Anthropic is extremely expensive and I think many people are urgently looking for alternatives," Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman told Bloomberg. "We pay a lot of money to Anthropic, so our goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate that cost."