Microsoft Weighs DeepSeek for Copilot CoWork to Cut Enterprise AI Costs
Summary
- Microsoft is considering applying DeepSeek V4 to its enterprise AI agent system Copilot CoWork to reduce the cost burden.
- DeepSeek V4 Pro is cheaper than Claude 4.8 and GPT-5.5, with input costs at one-third and output costs at one-seventh of those models, helping reduce the risk of bill shock under usage-based pricing.
- As part of its multi-model platform strategy, Microsoft said it plans to roll out a lower-cost model within weeks while keeping customer data on Azure and applying its own security rules to address corporate security concerns.
Forecast Trend Report by Period
Considering Integration Into Copilot CoWork
‘Multi-Model’ Strategy Aims to Lower Costs
Microsoft is considering adding Chinese AI company DeepSeek’s model to its platform.
Axios reported on June 16 that Microsoft is weighing the use of DeepSeek’s V4 model in Copilot CoWork. Copilot CoWork is an enterprise AI agent system that automatically selects AI models based on user prompts to help with workplace tasks. It currently uses Anthropic’s Opus 4.8 and Sonnet 4.6, while some preview customers have been given access to OpenAI’s GPT-5.5. Microsoft officially launched Copilot CoWork globally that day after a three-month preview period.
Microsoft is reviewing the DeepSeek model to reduce costs for customers. Copilot CoWork uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, meaning customers could face bill shock if they rely heavily on token-intensive models such as Claude 4.8 and GPT-5.5. DeepSeek V4 Pro costs one-third as much as Claude 4.8 for input, or prompts, and one-seventh as much for output, or responses. Microsoft plans to release a lower-cost model within weeks and make a final decision then.
A key variable is whether corporate users will accept the security risks. Microsoft said that even if customers use a DeepSeek model, their data will remain on Azure, the company’s cloud computing platform, and be subject to Microsoft’s own security rules.
Microsoft is OpenAI’s largest shareholder and an investor in Anthropic, but it is pursuing a multi-model platform strategy that lets several AI models compete on its platform. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on June 15 that “we do not want a world where enterprises cede all value to a small number of models.”
Kim In-yeop, Silicon Valley correspondent, inside@hankyung.com
Korea Economic Daily
hankyung@bloomingbit.ioThe Korea Economic Daily Global is a digital media where latest news on Korean companies, industries, and financial markets.
