Microsoft told Axios it is actively exploring a self‑hosted, fine‑tuned deployment of DeepSeek V4, the open‑source AI model released in April, as a cheaper alternative to power Copilot Cowork, the agentic assistant embedded in Microsoft 365. The company also keeps other open‑source options on the table, aiming to roll out a lower‑cost tier within weeks.

At the same time, Microsoft is transitioning Copilot Cowork to a usage‑based pricing model. Instead of a flat subscription fee, enterprises will be billed for the actual compute they consume. Executives say the change reflects the reality of agentic AI tools, which repeatedly invoke large language models to complete tasks. "We have users who do hundreds of tasks a week, which is great, they’re way productive, but the consequence is the costs can go very high," said Charles Lamanna, Microsoft’s executive vice‑president for Copilot, agents and platform.

Currently, Copilot Cowork runs on models from Anthropic and OpenAI. Both providers have recently raised prices and trimmed all‑you‑can‑eat plans, prompting Microsoft to meter GitHub Copilot in a similar fashion. The company’s search for a cheaper engine therefore feels inevitable.

DeepSeek V4 stands out because it is open‑source and markedly less expensive to run than the commercial offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI. Its lower operational cost makes it an attractive candidate, even as the model originates from a Chinese developer. The geopolitical backdrop is tense: Washington has floated a ban on DeepSeek, threatened Chinese AI firms, and forced Anthropic to cut off top models for non‑U.S. users after a dispute with the Commerce Department.

Microsoft acknowledges the political sensitivity. It says any DeepSeek‑based option would be optional for customers and fully hosted on Azure, ensuring data stays within Microsoft’s cloud under its existing security, compliance and residency controls. The firm also notes it has fine‑tuned the model and added safeguards designed to reduce bias.

The broader strategy signals Microsoft’s desire to avoid dependence on a single AI lab. Freed from its exclusive relationship with OpenAI, the tech giant is pushing a multi‑model approach, mixing and matching engines under its own roof. While the evaluation is ongoing and no final decision has been announced, the very fact that DeepSeek is on the shortlist underscores how quickly the cost of running AI agents is becoming a critical factor for enterprise software providers.

Este artigo foi escrito com a assistência de IA.
News Factory APP - notícias agênticas para impulsionar seu SEO e AEO.