Microsoft and OpenAI have had something of a symbiotic relationship, with the former giving billions of capital to a startup AI lab and in return gaining early access to cutting-edge models that are now baked into Microsoft’s suite of productivity software.

The effort is said to focus on the tech giant’s Microsoft 365 Copilot product. It’s an artificial intelligence assistant that ships with the eponymous productivity suite. Microsoft is reportedly working to integrate custom and open-source artificial intelligence models into the assistant, which is currently powered by technology from OpenAI.

Microsoft is exploring alternative language models for its Microsoft 365 Copilot to reduce reliance on OpenAI, addressing concerns about speed and cost for enterprise users. The company is training its own models and customizing open-weight models to enhance efficiency.

Microsoft is working to reduce its dependence on OpenAI for its flagship AI product, Microsoft 365 Copilot. Here's the reason.

Microsoft has been working on adding internal and third-party artificial intelligence models to power its flagship AI product Microsoft 365 Copilot, in a bid to diversify from the current underlying technology from OpenAI and reduce costs, sources familiar with the effort told Reuters.

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is working on integrating artificial intelligence models from other companies aside from OpenAI and itself into its Office 365 Copilot products, Reuters reported. Microsoft shares fell fractionally in late afternoon trading on Monday.