Microsoft, Vodafone sign Office AI deal

Telecommunications firm purchasing 68,000 licences for corporate versions of Copilot assistant to boost productivity

- DINA BASS AND MATT DAY

Microsoft Corp. said Vodafone Group Plc signed a large deal to use artificial intelligence assistants for Office and unveiled a range of new AI tools designed to help workers create Excel charts, prioritize emails and collaborate with one another.

Vodafone will purchase 68,000 licences for corporate versions of the assistants, known as Copilots, after early trials found workers using them saved about three hours a week per person, Microsoft said in a blog post Monday.

Other clients include Honeywell International Inc. and financial services firm Finastra Group Holdings Ltd. Microsoft said Copilot customers increased by more than 60 per cent in the most recent quarter, compared with the previous period, while the number of clients with more than 10,000 users doubled.

The company didn’t disclose overall customer totals.