Anthropic announces free Claude update for Microsoft 365 users, details here

Anthropic has announced that you can now connect your Microsoft 365 data to Claude for all plans, including the free tier. This will allow Claude to access your emails, documents and other files across various Microsoft apps such as Outlook, and OneDrive. Previously, this was restricted to team or entreprise users.

In Short

• Claude can now connect to Microsoft 365 for all users
• Now Claude can access your Outlook, OneDrive data for free
• Previously this was restricted to enterprise and team users

Anthropic is on a streak of updates for Claude. From code review to dispatch to computer use, the AI startup has launched a host of new updates over the past few weeks. Now, Anthropic is making it easier for you to use its AI. All Claude users can now connect their Microsoft 365 account to the AI.

Claude’s official X account announced the update. The post read, “Microsoft 365 connectors are now available on every Claude plan. Connect Outlook, OneDrive, and SharePoint to bring your email, docs, and files into the conversation.”

Here is what this means for you.

Connect your Microsoft account to Claude for free

Now, users can give Claude permission to access all their Microsoft 365 data, irrespective of their plan. Previously, this was only available for Claude Team and Entreprise users.

This will allow Claude to go through your documents, emails and other files on the Microsoft suite of apps, at no additional cost, making the entire process more seamless. As users will not need to upload files manually to Claude.

It appears that Anthropic is likely pushing Claude as an alternative to Microsoft’s Copilot, which is Microsoft’s AI assistant, built-in with Windows 11. This update could allow Microsoft 365 users to switch to Claude.

Microsoft is using Claude too

Earlier this week, Microsoft, which is an investor in OpenAI, announced the Copilot Council, which allows you to use multiple AI models at once. A user can get a brief written by ChatGPT, which can then be reviewed by Claude or vice versa.

The Redmond giant is also pushing Copilot Cowork to enterprise users, which is built on Anthropic’s Claude Cowork technology. Claude Cowork has previously rattled stocks of SaaS companies as investors feared a SaaSpocalypse.

Microsoft has been integrating Anthropic’s models into its platforms, potentially as a way to reduce its reliance on OpenAI. The company is also working on its own frontier models, led by its AI chief Mustafa Suleyman.

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