Microsoft is developing artificial intelligence models to compete with OpenAI. The tech giant has taken a step in its strategy to reduce dependence on the creators of ChatGPT and has plans to sell them to third parties. Despite having invested billions of dollars in OpenAI, Microsoft does not want to be tied to the advances of that company.
According to The Information, Microsoft is developing a new family of language models known as MAI. These models could compete with the most powerful models from OpenAI and Anthropic. One of them has reasoning capabilities similar to those of O1 and Claude Sonnet 3.7.
The report notes that this initiative is led by Mustafa Sulayman, head of Microsoft’s artificial intelligence division. Sulayman not only seeks to reduce dependence on OpenAI, but is also analysing the possibility of integrating models from other companies into Copilot. In addition to the development of MAI, Microsoft engineers have already begun testing models from DeepSeek, Meta, and xAI as a potential replacement for OpenAI in their chatbot.
Details are scarce and the information has not been confirmed by OpenAI or Microsoft. Nevertheless, the decision to move away from OpenAI makes sense after the relationship between the two companies has weakened in recent months. Some rumors suggest that OpenAI wants to ditch Microsoft and already has a plan to achieve this.
Microsoft to develop its own AI before breaking up with OpenAI
A New York Times report published in October 2024 claimed that OpenAI is not satisfied with the alliance it forged with Microsoft. The company led by Sam Altman claimed that Microsoft did not provide them with enough computing power to advance the development of their AI. This is a fundamental part of the agreement between the two companies, although there is also an additional reason for the discontent.
According to sources, OpenAI was also upset that Microsoft hired DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Sulayman to head its AI division. Sulayman, a controversial figure in the industry, allegedly got into an altercation with an OpenAI employee during a video call. Additionally, Microsoft employees downloaded OpenAI’s proprietary software without asking permission, further straining the relationship between the two companies.
An additional leak revealed that OpenAI is pressuring Microsoft to break the exclusivity contract requiring them to use Azure. This would give Sam Altman’s team access to more computing power to boost the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Microsoft knows that this would put its investment at further risk, since OpenAI would not be obliged to share its technologies if it manages to achieve AGI.
Whatever the outcome of this situation, Microsoft has stepped on the accelerator to boost the development of its own models. The arrival of DeepSeek and its affordable model could also influence the reduction of OpenAI’s dependence on Copilot.