Cognizant and Microsoft have announced the purchase of 25,000 Copilot for Microsoft 365 licenses, marking a significant investment in AI technology. The deal, revealed on April 23, 2024, also includes 500 licenses each for Microsoft Copilot for Sales and Microsoft Copilot for Service. This move underscores Cognizant’s commitment to leveraging AI across its operations and client services, aiming to foster innovation and efficiency on a large scale.
Expanding AI Footprint
Cognizant’s strategy extends beyond internal use, with plans to promote Microsoft 365 Copilot among its extensive client base. The company has set an ambitious target of reaching 1 million users, a goal supported by its substantial global presence. With nearly 350,000 employees worldwide and a diverse clientele spanning various industries, Cognizant is well-positioned to achieve this milestone. The collaboration with Microsoft will also focus on developing AI-enabled applications for key sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, leveraging Microsoft’s Copilot Studio platform.
Investing in the Future of AI
Cognizant has been vocal about its belief in the transformative potential of generative AI for businesses across all industries. The company has pledged $1 billion towards generative AI initiatives up to 2026, emphasizing training and research. To date, 35,000 developers have been trained on GitHub Copilot, with plans to train an additional 40,000. Furthermore, Cognizant recently inaugurated an AI research lab in San Francisco to lead AI research and patent development. CEO Ravi Kumar S. highlighted the critical role of generative AI in driving innovation, efficiency, and growth, stating that Microsoft Copilot is a “proven tool” for achieving significant advancements.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 Expansions
As well as partnering with major companies, Microsoft is also extending Copilot capabilities to smaller and medium businesses. Initially launched exclusively for Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 enterprise plans in November 2023, Copilot targeted large corporations. At the time, it was also known as Microsoft 365 Copilot before being rebranded as Copilot for Microsoft 365 in December. However, in January, Microsoft opened the service to businesses of all sizes to integrate this robust generative AI tool into their workflows.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 8:50 pm CET
