Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman: My team is 'more concerned' about Anthropic, than Google, Meta and OpenAI because …

Microsoft’s AI chief Mustafa Suleyman revealed his team is more focused on rival Anthropic than Google, Meta, or OpenAI, citing the company’s aggressive push into enterprise software and coding tools. Speaking at Microsoft’s Build conference, Suleyman emphasized that Anthropic’s approach—targeting developers and corporate workflows—poses a direct threat to Microsoft’s core business, unlike consumer-focused AI models. The shift follows Anthropic’s launch of Cowork, an AI coding tool that automates complex business tasks without requiring programming skills. The release triggered investor concerns, leading to a 10% year-to-date drop in Microsoft’s stock as fears grew that Anthropic could disrupt traditional enterprise software platforms. To counter this, Microsoft announced seven new AI models at Build, including an advanced reasoning model designed to rival Anthropic’s flagship Opus 4.6. The company also introduced an ultra-efficient coding model optimized for its GitHub developer platform, reinforcing its push toward self-sufficiency in AI. Microsoft’s strategy includes reducing dependence on OpenAI, its long-time partner behind tools like Copilot. A recent deal restructured their relationship, granting OpenAI corporate independence while securing Microsoft’s access to its models until 2032. Meanwhile, Microsoft committed up to $5 billion to Anthropic as part of a $30 billion cloud partnership, signaling a major investment in competing directly with its former ally. Suleyman, who co-founded Google DeepMind, highlighted Microsoft’s goal of creating ‘thinking and coding’ agents capable of handling complex, multi-step workflows for corporate clients. These autonomous AI systems aim to integrate reasoning and coding capabilities, positioning Microsoft to dominate enterprise AI applications.