Microsoft is moving away from exclusive reliance on OpenAI by integrating Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4 AI into Office 365 applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. This decision reflects growing tension between Microsoft and OpenAI, as both companies pursue independent initiatives. Microsoft’s leaders reportedly believe Anthropic’s models excel in specific capabilities, such as designing visually appealing presentations, and see value in diversifying their AI portfolio. Additionally, Microsoft is advancing its own in-house AI systems while negotiating new terms with OpenAI, whose restructuring plans remain in progress. On the other side, OpenAI is reducing dependence on Microsoft’s infrastructure by developing its own AI chips. This evolving competition marks a shakeup in the AI market.

French AI firm Mistral has solidified its position as Europe’s leading AI contender with a staggering €17 billion investment round. The funding, led by Dutch chip manufacturer ASML, granted the sponsor an 11% stake and a seat on Mistral’s strategic committee. The company’s valuation doubled to €117 billion, showcasing rapid growth yet highlighting the gap compared to U.S. rival Anthropic’s €183 billion mark. Mistral stands apart through its commitment to open-source AI models, allowing developers worldwide to adapt and improve them. Strategic collaborations, including NVIDIA and MGX, reflect Mistral’s ambitions for global AI influence. By partnering with ASML, Mistral aims to advance innovation across both AI models and semiconductor technology

Alibaba Group has introduced its most advanced AI model, Qwen-3-Max-Preview, featuring over 1 trillion parameters. Released via its cloud platform and OpenRouter marketplace, this model joins the elite ranks of AI systems developed by OpenAI and Google DeepMind. A member of the company’s Qwen3 series, Qwen-3-Max-Preview is designed exclusively for text-based tasks and outperformed earlier iterations in internal evaluations. It reportedly surpassed competitors like MoonShot AI’s Kimi K2 and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4 in performance benchmarks, though Alibaba has not provided an official technical report. AI parameters, which determine a model’s learning capacity, continue to be a key measure of innovation in the field.

Warner Bros. has filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, claiming the AI platform violates copyrights by generating unauthorized images and videos of its iconic characters, including Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny. The studio alleges that Midjourney deliberately removed safeguards that could have prevented such infringements. This case follows a similar template to earlier lawsuits filed by Disney and Universal, suggesting a united front by major studios against AI misuse. Midjourney, on the other hand, argues its practices fall under “fair use” and accuses the studios of double standards. The platform’s expansion into video services and streaming channels has heightened tensions, with studios viewing this as a competitive threat. Warner Bros. seeks damages and an injunction.

Biotech startup Enveda is using artificial intelligence to search thousands of plants for potential drug breakthroughs. The Colorado-based company recently achieved unicorn status with a $150 million funding round, valuing it at over $1 billion. Enveda’s approach combines traditional plant-based medicine knowledge with AI to identify promising molecules for drug development. The firm has already begun its first clinical trial and plans to expand its pipeline. This innovative method aims to accelerate the discovery of new medicines from natural sources.