Microsoft integrates Anthropic AI into Copilot for task automation
Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced that it is incorporating AI technology from Anthropic into its Copilot service, launching a new tool aimed at automating complex business tasks.
The new offering, called Copilot Cowork, is based on Anthropic's Claude Cowork platform, which gained attention for its ability to create applications, build spreadsheets, and manage large datasets with limited human input.
Microsoft said it expects its enterprise relationships and focus on security and data governance to appeal to companies seeking AI agents but concerned about potential risks.
Copilot Cowork is currently in testing and will be available to early-access users later this month. Microsoft has not disclosed pricing but said some usage will be included in its $30-per-user-per-month Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription, with additional usage available for purchase.
The tool allows users to delegate tasks across Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, and Excel, converting user instructions into actionable plans that run in the background. Microsoft emphasized that users retain oversight of tasks, with checkpoints to review progress and approve changes.
Examples of Copilot Cowork's capabilities include rescheduling meetings, preparing meeting packets, conducting company research, and coordinating product launch workflows. Microsoft highlighted that the tool operates within the security and compliance framework of Microsoft 365, running in a sandboxed cloud environment to protect data.
"Copilot hosts the best innovation from across the industry and chooses the right model for the job regardless of who built it. This is a pattern of work that will only become more powerful as new models and ways of working emerge," said Charles Lamanna, president, business applications and agents at Microsoft in a blog post.
In addition to integrating Claude Cowork, Microsoft said it is making Anthropic's Claude Sonnet models available to Copilot users. Previously, the service relied exclusively on OpenAI's GPT models.
