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Jon Keegan

Microsoft is pushing Copilot, but everyone just wants ChatGPT

Microsoft’s pitch to sell its Copilot AI chatbot to enterprise customers is facing some stubborn resistance: people have used ChatGPT and they just like it more.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Microsoft’s sales team is having a hard time convincing companies why they should use Copilot over partner OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which share the same underlying models.

While Copilot is sometimes cheaper, and more tightly integrated into Microsoft’s productivity workhorses like Word, Excel, and Teams, companies are often using ChatGPT instead, and this might be increasing tensions in an already tense partnership.

OpenAI has said it has 3 million paying enterprise customers, and that number is growing fast. Microsoft told employees that “multiple dozens” of customers have over 100,000 paying users, which would work out to a floor of 2.4 million paying Copilot licenses, but the company hasn’t shared an exact figure.

But Microsoft has a deep, broad business and long-term relationships with enterprise customers, which might give it an edge in the long run.

Today, Microsoft shares hit an all-time high of $491.76.

While Copilot is sometimes cheaper, and more tightly integrated into Microsoft’s productivity workhorses like Word, Excel, and Teams, companies are often using ChatGPT instead, and this might be increasing tensions in an already tense partnership.

OpenAI has said it has 3 million paying enterprise customers, and that number is growing fast. Microsoft told employees that “multiple dozens” of customers have over 100,000 paying users, which would work out to a floor of 2.4 million paying Copilot licenses, but the company hasn’t shared an exact figure.

But Microsoft has a deep, broad business and long-term relationships with enterprise customers, which might give it an edge in the long run.

Today, Microsoft shares hit an all-time high of $491.76.

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Intel romps amid reported attempt to poach a 21-year Taiwan Semiconductor veteran

A report in the Taiwanese press that Intel is attempting to recruit a recently retired top Taiwan Semiconductor executive, Wei-Jen Lo, to lead R&D at Intel’s troubled foundry division may account for the bump in Intel shares Tuesday, one analyst told us.

A synopsis of the report from technology analysis and news outlet Trendforce notes:

If confirmed, the move could have significant implications for TSMC and the broader Taiwanese semiconductor industry, especially as Intel aggressively expands its foundry business with support from Washington and backing from tech giants like NVIDIA and SoftBank, the report adds.

But some skepticism about Lo, 75 years old, returning to Intel, where he worked before joining TSMC in 2004, is also warranted, Trendforce notes:

“Industry insiders cited by the report say it is unlikely he would join Intel again, given TSMC’s non-compete rules, Intel’s status as a direct competitor, Lo’s advanced age, health considerations, and his long-standing loyalty to TSMC founder Morris Chang. On the other hand, some industry observers warn that Lo, a U.S. citizen, would be difficult for TSMC to restrict, even with non-compete clauses.”

Intel shares have doubled over the last three months, since the US government took a 10% stake in the company in August. Intel is the best performing stock in the S&P 500 over that period.

If confirmed, the move could have significant implications for TSMC and the broader Taiwanese semiconductor industry, especially as Intel aggressively expands its foundry business with support from Washington and backing from tech giants like NVIDIA and SoftBank, the report adds.

But some skepticism about Lo, 75 years old, returning to Intel, where he worked before joining TSMC in 2004, is also warranted, Trendforce notes:

“Industry insiders cited by the report say it is unlikely he would join Intel again, given TSMC’s non-compete rules, Intel’s status as a direct competitor, Lo’s advanced age, health considerations, and his long-standing loyalty to TSMC founder Morris Chang. On the other hand, some industry observers warn that Lo, a U.S. citizen, would be difficult for TSMC to restrict, even with non-compete clauses.”

Intel shares have doubled over the last three months, since the US government took a 10% stake in the company in August. Intel is the best performing stock in the S&P 500 over that period.

Sunny blue sky with large storm clouds in spring.

This earnings season, all eyes are on cloud revenue growth

AI computing demand is generating huge revenue streams for hyperscalers, but the market is closely watching the pace of growth, which is slowing.

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Nokia surges as Nvidia invests $1 billion in company, a 2.9% stake

Nvidia is taking a 2.9% stake in Nokia, as the Finnish mobile networking company has successfully pivoted to AI and data center technology.

In a press release announcing the deal, Nokia said:

“Nokia intends to accelerate development of Nokia’s 5G & 6G RAN software to run on NVIDIA’s architecture and will make investments to drive Nokia’s strategic goal of increasing its presence in the AI & Cloud market with data center aligned networking solutions within its Network Infrastructure business. Nokia and NVIDIA have agreed to collaborate on AI networking solutions and explore opportunities to incorporate Nokia’s data center switching and optical technologies in NVIDIA’s future AI infrastructure architecture.”

Nokia’s stock shot up over 20% on news of the deal.

“Nokia intends to accelerate development of Nokia’s 5G & 6G RAN software to run on NVIDIA’s architecture and will make investments to drive Nokia’s strategic goal of increasing its presence in the AI & Cloud market with data center aligned networking solutions within its Network Infrastructure business. Nokia and NVIDIA have agreed to collaborate on AI networking solutions and explore opportunities to incorporate Nokia’s data center switching and optical technologies in NVIDIA’s future AI infrastructure architecture.”

Nokia’s stock shot up over 20% on news of the deal.

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