Microsoft adds Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 4.5, Opus 4.1, Haiku 4.5 to Azure
Microsoft just slipped three of Anthropic’s newest Claude models, Sonnet 4.5, Opus 4.1 and Haiku 4.5, into Azure. It’s part of a string of cloud-AI deals that have been nudging where developers run big language models. Azure now hosts those latest versions, but the tie-up isn’t exclusive; Amazon still looks like Anthropic’s primary cloud and training partner.
That fact hints at how multi-cloud the AI supply chain has become. In practice, the models appear inside Microsoft’s Foundry platform, so customers can tap the newest Anthropic tech without stepping out of Azure. At the same time, Amazon keeps doing the heavy lifting of training, and Nvidia chips are in the background, though the exact setup isn’t public.
I’m curious how this will feel for developers who already use Foundry, maybe a smoother path to the newest prompts, maybe just another option to juggle. Either way, the new models are now reachable directly from Azure.
Microsoft Foundry customers will now be able to access Anthropic's frontier Claude models including Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus 4.1, and Claude Haiku 4.5. Despite these models coming to Microsoft's AI servers, Amazon will still remain Anthropic's primary cloud provider and training partner. Nvidia and Anthropic are also partnering today as part of this deal, to optimize Anthropic's models for the best performance on future Nvidia architectures.
Anthropic is committing to up to one gigawatt of compute capacity using Nvidia Blackwell and Vera Rubin systems. As part of these partnerships, Nvidia is investing up to $10 billion in Anthropic, with Microsoft also investing $5 billion. Microsoft has been increasingly embracing Anthropic's models across its Copilot services.
Microsoft just hooked Anthropic’s Claude models, Sonnet 4.5, Opus 4.1 and Haiku 4.5, into Azure through the new Foundry service. Amazon, however, still looks like the main cloud and training partner for Anthropic, so any talk of an exclusive switch feels premature. Anthropic has said it will spend about $30 billion on Azure compute and is keeping the option open for another gigawatt of capacity if needed.
At the same time, Microsoft and Nvidia are putting their own cash into the startup, which hints at a multi-partner play rather than a lock-in. It’s still unclear whether the tighter Azure tie-in will give Foundry users a real edge, especially since the company keeps leaning on Amazon’s infrastructure. The deal does widen Microsoft’s AI lineup, but we haven’t seen concrete changes in price, speed or developer uptake yet.
I’ll be watching to see how the two-cloud setup evolves and whether the promised compute spend actually shows up.
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Common Questions Answered
Which Anthropic Claude models are now available on Microsoft Azure through the Foundry offering?
Microsoft Azure now hosts Anthropic's latest Claude models: Claude Sonnet 4.5, Claude Opus 4.1, and Claude Haiku 4.5. These frontier versions are accessible to Microsoft Foundry customers as part of the expanded AI toolbox.
Does the addition of Claude models to Azure make Microsoft Anthropic's exclusive cloud partner?
No, the partnership is not exclusive. While Azure now runs the new Claude models, Amazon remains Anthropic's primary cloud and training partner, highlighting a multi‑cloud approach for the AI supply chain.
What role does Nvidia play in the new Microsoft‑Anthropic deal?
Nvidia is collaborating with Anthropic to optimize the Claude models for the best performance on upcoming Nvidia architectures. This joint effort aims to ensure the models run efficiently on future GPU hardware.
How much Azure compute capacity has Anthropic committed to purchase, and what future expansion is possible?
Anthropic has pledged to buy $30 billion worth of Azure compute capacity and has left the door open for up to an additional gigawatt of resources. This substantial commitment underscores the strategic importance of Azure in Anthropic's scaling plans.