Microsoft has reportedly outlined a strategy for its sales team to negatively compare AI products from competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to its own offerings. During a strategy session for the new fiscal year, executives reportedly emphasized pitching the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Microsoft's in-house models. Executive Vice President Jay Parikh reportedly stated, "Everyone else is selling parts — we're selling the full end-to-end system."
Executive Vice President Jacob Andreou reportedly presented a direct comparison between Microsoft's Copilot and Anthropic's Claude, noting that within Microsoft's office apps, Anthropic's model was "slower and less accurate, and lacked the proper security integrations." Microsoft has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The move is notable given Microsoft's historical dependence on the very companies it's now targeting. A recent report found Microsoft has been replacing OpenAI and Anthropic models in flagship apps like Word and Excel with its own models—a cost-cutting measure. The two companies amended their partnership in April, dropping exclusivity clauses and allowing OpenAI to sell to Microsoft's competitors. Microsoft's stock outlook has been less than optimal over the past year as investors question the company's massive AI spending, making efforts to highlight product competitiveness likely an attempt to build investor confidence.