Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft was replacing some of OpenAI’s software with its own internal models in an effort to reduce costs. Those internal models, known as MAI, were increasingly used to power applications like Word and Excel, the outlet noted.
The story raised an increasingly common question about the two companies, which were once seemingly inseparable, and recently sent mixed signals about the state of their situation: Were the two companies growing apart?
Now, OpenAI is attempting to put an end to any suggestion of such a breakup. During OpenAI release of GPT 5.6 On Thursday, the company announced that it would become the “preferred model” of Microsoft’s 365 Copilot.
OpenAI noted in a blog post released Thursday that GPT 5.6 would support Microsoft users across the company’s entire suite of productivity apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Cowork.
“Our partnership with Microsoft has always been about bringing the benefits of advanced AI to more people and organizations, and we are excited to continue building on that shared commitment,” OpenAI wrote in a blog post.
What it actually means to be a “preferred model” is not entirely clear, other than that OpenAI software will continue to power Microsoft applications.
That said, it was never reported that ChatGPT software would stop working with Microsoft applications, simply that Microsoft was becoming more reliant on its own software in an effort to reduce costs. The new disclosure of the “preferred model” does not appear to negate previous reports.
