At its Build 2026 conference, held June 2 to 4, Microsoft made an announcement that flew a bit under the radar for the general public but hits businesses directly: the company unveiled its own family of artificial intelligence models, called MAI (for Microsoft AI). Until now, nearly all of Microsoft’s AI, from the Copilot assistant in Word to GitHub Copilot for developers, ran on models from OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT.

With MAI, Microsoft is starting to build and use its own digital brains. For an SMB in Trois-Rivières, the Mauricie region, or Quebec City already paying for Microsoft 365 or Copilot, this shift raises a simple question: are my tools about to change, and do I need to do anything? Here’s the essential, no jargon.

1. What Microsoft announced at Build 2026

For years, Microsoft leaned on OpenAI to run its smart tools. At Build 2026, the tone shifted: the company now wants to build a good chunk of its AI in-house. It introduced a family of MAI models, each specialized for a specific task. Based on what was shared on stage and reported by tech media, the lineup includes:

• A reasoning model (referred to as MAI-Reason, or MAI-Thinking depending on the source) for analysis, problem-solving, and the now-famous “agents” that carry out actions on their own.
• A code model (MAI-Code) to assist developers, meant to power GitHub Copilot.
• Image, transcription, and voice models to generate visuals, transcribe meetings, and read text aloud.

Notably, Microsoft says its reasoning model was trained without using OpenAI’s data. In other words, Microsoft isn’t just renting a partner’s AI anymore, it’s building its own recipe from the ground up.

2. Why Microsoft is building its own models

Since 2023, Microsoft and OpenAI have been the industry’s most visible pairing. But relying on a single supplier for such a strategic technology carries risks: price increases, shifting priorities, or simply not controlling your own recipe. With MAI, Microsoft is looking to take back control of three concrete things.

• Cost: paying an outside partner for every AI request adds up fast at scale. Owning its models lets Microsoft manage that bill more closely, which could eventually show up in subscription pricing.
• Privacy: by keeping the technology in-house, Microsoft promises better control over where your data travels, an important point for businesses bound by strict rules (think Law 25 in Quebec).
• Integration: by owning the engine, Microsoft can tailor it more tightly to Windows, Microsoft 365, and Azure, without waiting on a third party’s timeline.

This isn’t an overnight break from OpenAI. Most sources point to a gradual transition instead, with a period where both technologies run side by side under the hood. Microsoft also remains an investor in OpenAI.

3. What this actually means for your SMB

If your business already uses Microsoft 365, Copilot, or Windows 11, here’s what to expect. Keep in mind the dates below are only indicative: rollout timelines shift often, so always check Microsoft’s official channels.

• Microsoft 365 Copilot: according to Microsoft, the new reasoning model is expected to start reaching enterprise customers as early as summer 2026 in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The Copilot button you know will stay the same, but the engine behind it may be a MAI model instead of an OpenAI one.
• GitHub Copilot: for teams building software, the MAI code model is starting to roll in, with a phase where it runs alongside the existing technology. Local developers using this tool will see the transition happen gradually.
• Windows 11: some AI features (image generation, transcription, text-to-speech) are starting to show up in tools like Paint and Narrator, first for Windows Insider users.

For most SMBs, the change will mostly be invisible at first: same interface, same shortcuts, just a different engine running behind the scenes. That’s exactly why it’s worth knowing about now, rather than discovering it after the fact. If you want to get the most out of Copilot without getting lost in the technical details, our managed IT services are here for that.

4. Should you worry? Privacy, quality, and continuity

A change of engine raises fair questions. Here’s how to think it through calmly, without panicking or brushing it off either.

• Privacy: in theory, keeping AI in-house gives Microsoft more control over your data. In practice, it doesn’t change your own responsibility: you still need to know what information your employees are pasting into Copilot, and set the right protection settings.
• Result quality: a new model can produce slightly different answers. During the transition, keep the habit of reviewing and validating what the AI produces, especially for important documents or figures.
• Continuity: nothing forces you to act urgently. Your tools keep working. The wisest move is to stay informed and plan ahead, not to overhaul everything overnight.

5. How to prepare your SMB for the AI shift

Whether you’re already using Copilot or still on the fence, a few simple steps will put you in a good position for the months ahead.

• Take stock of your AI tools: who in your company uses Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, or others, and for what? You can only protect what you actually know about.
• Clarify your data rules: write down, in plain terms, what information can go into an AI tool and what needs to stay confidential (customer information, financial data, personal files).
• Train your team: two or three well-understood best practices beat a ten-page policy nobody reads.
• Keep a backup plan: never build a critical process around a single tool. Transitions like MAI are a good reminder that you should always be able to keep working if a service changes.

At OKTO Solutions, we help SMBs in Trois-Rivières, the Mauricie region, and Quebec City navigate these decisions, without selling jargon or fear. The goal: make technology work for you, not the other way around.

Frequently asked questions

What are Microsoft’s MAI models?

MAI (Microsoft AI) is the family of artificial intelligence models Microsoft is building in-house, unveiled at the Build 2026 conference. It includes several specialized models (reasoning, code, image, transcription, voice) meant to power Copilot, Windows, and other products.

Will Copilot stop using OpenAI’s technology?

Not right away. Microsoft is planning a gradual transition where its own MAI models and OpenAI’s technology run side by side for a while. The goal is to reduce reliance on a single supplier, not to cut ties overnight.

Do I need to change anything in my SMB right now?

No, nothing urgent. Your Microsoft 365 and Copilot tools keep working as usual. The smart move is to stay informed, keep good data habits, and validate AI output, especially for important documents.

Stay ahead of the tech changes

Microsoft’s shift toward its own MAI models shows one thing: the AI world moves fast, and the tools you use every day can change engines without much warning. You don’t have to track it all yourself. Check out our IT services for SMBs or contact the OKTO Solutions team to take stock of how you use Copilot and AI, without the headache.