Microsoft AI chief confirms plan to ditch OpenAI (www.windowscentral.com)

Microsoft is reportedly planning to transition away from using OpenAI's models for its AI initiatives, a move confirmed by the company's AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman. Currently, Microsoft leverages OpenAI's ChatGPT and other models in products like Microsoft 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot. The decision reflects a growing independence as Microsoft aims to develop its own foundational AI models, backed by substantial compute resources and a top-tier AI training team. This shift could signal a more competitive landscape among major tech firms as Microsoft, a historical backer of OpenAI, explores self-sufficiency in AI development. This development is significant as it highlights Microsoft's ambition to innovate independently amid ongoing criticisms of OpenAI's financial viability and ethical concerns surrounding AI advancements. With projections that AI could dramatically impact white-collar work and promises to enhance healthcare through "medical super-intelligence," Microsoft's commitment to AI remains unwavering despite public trepidation about the technology's potential societal repercussions. The firm plans to release its own models by 2026, potentially reshaping the AI marketplace and intensifying competition with other AI players like Anthropic and Google DeepMind.