OpenAI says GPT-5.6 will be the ‘preferred model’ for Microsoft 365 Copilot
OpenAI announced that its latest model, GPT-5.6, will become the preferred AI for Microsoft 365 Copilot, aiming to quell speculation about a rift between the two companies.
OpenAI on Thursday launched GPT-5.6 and simultaneously announced that the model would become the “preferred model” for Microsoft’s 365 Copilot suite. The move comes after a Bloomberg report earlier this week indicated that Microsoft was increasingly replacing OpenAI’s software with its own in-house models, called MAI, to reduce costs. According to the report, Microsoft’s own models were being deployed in apps like Word and Excel.
In a blog post, OpenAI stated that GPT-5.6 will support users across Microsoft’s productivity apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Cowork. “Our partnership with Microsoft has always been about bringing the benefits of advanced AI to more individuals and organizations, and we’re excited to continue building on that shared commitment,” the company wrote.
The exact meaning of “preferred model” remains unclear, but it essentially confirms that OpenAI’s software will continue to power Microsoft’s applications. Notably, previous reports never claimed that ChatGPT’s software would be fully removed — only that Microsoft was relying more on its own AI to cut expenses. OpenAI’s latest disclosure does not contradict that earlier reporting.
