OpenAI has designated GPT 5.6 as the preferred model for Microsoft Copilot 365, a move that reinforces the deep ties between the two companies. The announcement arrives amid persistent chatter that their partnership might be fraying.
Speculation about a potential split has swirled for months, fueled by Microsoft's reported development of in-house models and its growing investments elsewhere. Today's statement appears designed to quiet those rumors, at least for now.
The new model family will remain central to Microsoft's suite of workplace and productivity applications. Neither company disclosed specific performance benchmarks or pricing terms for the arrangement.
For enterprise customers, the confirmation offers continuity and reduces uncertainty about which AI engine will underpin their workflows. It also signals that the collaboration between the two tech titans remains commercially significant.
Counter-argument: Critics note that a preferred status is not an exclusive contract; Microsoft could still shift to alternative models in the future without a formal break-up.