Anthropic is integrating its AI assistant, Claude, with Microsoft 365 services, which will enable the chatbot to access and reference content from Word documents, Teams messages, and Outlook emails during interactions. This integration is part of ongoing enhancements aimed at improving the assistant’s utility in professional environments.
The Claude assistant will also be able to connect with Microsoft SharePoint and OneDrive, allowing it to search and analyze documents automatically without requiring manual uploads. The Microsoft 365 connector is now available to users on Claude’s Team and Enterprise plans; however, administrators must enable the integration for users to connect their accounts.
With the Outlook integration, Claude can access email threads to provide contextually relevant responses. It is also equipped to search through conversations in Microsoft Teams, including channel discussions and meeting summaries. Additionally, Anthropic is introducing an enterprise search feature designed to facilitate searches across various data sources within a company, which could help with onboarding new team members and identifying experts on specific topics.
The integration operates through a Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector, Anthropic’s open-source standard for linking AI applications with other data sources. Microsoft has indicated plans to adopt MCP broadly, particularly as it redesigns its operating system to incorporate more AI features.
Moreover, Microsoft has increasingly utilized Anthropic’s AI models to enhance its Microsoft 365 applications. These models contribute to various functions, including Copilot Researcher, GitHub Copilot, and a new Office Agent that assists in creating Word and PowerPoint documents through Microsoft’s Copilot interface. This collaboration comes amid Microsoft’s efforts to diversify its AI investments beyond its existing partnerships.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/801487/anthropic-claude-microsoft-365-connector-ai