Microsoft adds Grok AI models to Copilot in Office apps

Microsoft ↗ 0.65% announced on Saturday that it is bringing xAI's Grok models into Copilot across Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, marking a further expansion of its multi-model AI strategy that now includes models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI's parent company SpaceXAI.

A New AI Option Inside Office Apps

The rollout, announced through a Microsoft Tech Community blog post and amplified by CEO Satya Nadella on social media, brings Grok to Copilot through the Microsoft Frontier Program — the company's channel for previewing advanced features with select enterprise customers. Access is available on both web and desktop versions of the three Office applications.techau+2

"More model choice coming to Copilot. Welcome Grok!" Nadella wrote in his post announcing the integration.x+1

The integration is disabled by default. Organization administrators must explicitly opt in before any corporate data is processed by SpaceXAI's models. Microsoft has added SpaceXAI to its Online Services Subprocessor List as part of the rollout. Frontier customers in the European Union, European Free Trade Association, and the United Kingdom are excluded from the initial preview.thenews+1

Part of a Broader Multi-Model Push

The Grok integration is the latest step in Microsoft's shift away from relying exclusively on OpenAI models within Copilot. In August, Copilot in Word added support for Anthropic AI models, and Grok 4.1 Fast had already been available in Copilot Studio for U.S.-based developers since a February preview. Separately, xAI has shipped free Grok add-ins for PowerPoint, Word, and Excel through the Microsoft Marketplace earlier this year, along with a paid Outlook add-in and connectors for Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.basenor+3

Microsoft said it will evaluate customer feedback, usage patterns, and product fit during the Frontier preview before deciding whether to expand Grok's availability to additional Copilot surfaces and broader commercial tiers. All models undergo security validation and Responsible AI reviews before release.thenews+1

What Comes Next

The announcement arrives as xAI prepares its next model release. Elon Musk recently said Grok 4.7 — reportedly scaling to 2.1 trillion parameters — needs "a few more days to cook," delaying a launch initially expected this week. Microsoft, meanwhile, is working toward merging its various Copilot experiences into a unified "super app" that Nadella confirmed during the company's July earnings call.iphoneincanada+2