Microsoft and Anthropic have announced an expansion of their partnership, introducing public preview access to Claude Sonnet 4.5, Haiku 4.5, and Opus 4.1 models within Microsoft Foundry. This collaboration allows Azure customers to develop production applications and enterprise agents utilizing Claude’s advanced capabilities.
The integration provides companies with the opportunity to harness Claude, recognized as the leading model for coding, agent functionality, and office tasks, seamlessly within their existing Microsoft infrastructure. Developers can conveniently utilize Claude models in Microsoft Foundry alongside Claude Code, an AI-driven coding assistant.
In addition to the established integrations with Microsoft 365 Copilot, where Claude enhances the Researcher agent for tackling complex research tasks and facilitates custom agent creation in Copilot Studio, Microsoft Excel’s Agent Mode has introduced a preview option for utilizing Claude. This feature allows users to generate formulas, analyze data, identify errors, and refine solutions directly within their spreadsheets.
For enterprises already utilizing Microsoft Foundry and Microsoft 365 Copilot, these new AI capabilities streamline processes by eliminating the hassles of navigating separate vendor contracts and billing systems, considerably reducing procurement time.
The models are accessible through the Microsoft Foundry via serverless deployment, enabling efficient scaling while Anthropic oversees the infrastructure. Developers can start building right away, employing Foundry’s APIs, tools, and workflows. Additionally, Claude is compatible with existing Azure agreements, allowing teams to use the Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitment (MACC) and simplifying vendor approvals.
Claude is made available in several model variations tailored to specific needs. Sonnet 4.5 stands out as the premier coding model, excelling in sophisticated reasoning and complex workflows. Haiku 4.5, while offering impressive performance, is optimized for high-volume applications and cost efficiency. Opus 4.1 is designed for tasks that demand meticulous reasoning and sustained concentration.
Each model supports a range of Claude Developer Platform functionalities, enhancing capabilities such as code execution, web search, tool utilization, and more. For those eager to take advantage of these advancements, Claude is currently accessible in public preview through Microsoft Foundry, inviting developers to explore the future of AI integration in their applications.