By Daniel Howley
Publication Date: 2026-04-02 16:00:00
Microsoft (MSFT) says it’s on a path to developing high-powered frontier models, an acknowledgment that it is looking to wean itself off its dependence on partner models from OpenAI (OPAI.PVT).
Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman told Bloomberg in an interview published Thursday that the plan is to have “state-of-the-art” models for multiple types of data, known as multi-modal models, including for text, audio, and images.
The news comes less than a month after Microsoft moved Suleyman’s focus in its AI subsidiary to developing its own models, turning development of the company’s Copilot platform over to Jacob Andreou.
Microsoft jumped out to an early lead in the AI race thanks to its partnership with OpenAI, which provides Microsoft with the company’s intellectual property through 2032.
As of October, Microsoft held a 27% stake in OpenAI Group PBC. The company also recently contributed to OpenAI’s latest fundraising round, which brought in $122…
