OpenAI labels GPT 5.6 as preferred model for Microsoft Copilot 365

The declaration serves as a tactical response to widespread speculation regarding the health of the high-profile partnership. By confirming that GPT 5.6 will support core productivity tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, OpenAI aims to signal stability in its primary revenue channel. The company framed the move as a continuation of a shared commitment to scaling advanced artificial intelligence for enterprise users.

Despite the messaging, the industry remains wary of the underlying friction. Bloomberg recently highlighted that Microsoft is deploying in-house software to handle specific tasks, a strategy aimed at curbing dependence on OpenAI’s expensive compute resources. The label of preferred model does not explicitly preclude Microsoft from continuing its transition toward internal solutions, leaving the actual division of labor between OpenAI’s systems and Microsoft’s proprietary MAI tech largely ambiguous.