How Microsoft's New Office Chief Fixed Copilot and Won Over Nadella

The Information reports that in summer 2025 Charles Lamanna proposed paying for Anthropic models to fix Copilot, which customers criticized as buggy and weak at automating Excel and PowerPoint work. Lamanna called the idea "heresy" at the time.

• In 2025 customers complained Copilot was buggy and weak at Excel and PowerPoint automation
• Charles Lamanna proposed paying for Anthropic models to improve Copilot
• Lamanna described the proposal as "heresy" at the time
• Lamanna now leads Microsoft's Office division