Microsoft will switch on Anthropic’s Claude models by default for UK Copilot customers starting December 9, according to The Next Web. The Register reported that UK organizations without a chosen setting by that date will have the AI models enabled automatically, though administrators retain the option to turn them off.
Key takeaways
- Microsoft will enable Claude by default for UK Copilot users on December 9.
- Anthropic acts as a Microsoft subprocessor and processes data in the US.
- The change affects Copilot, Researcher, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365 apps.
- A new IPPR report highlights the UK public sector dependence on US tech suppliers.
Why is Microsoft enabling Claude in the UK?
According to Microsoft’s Copilot documentation, Claude is already active by default for most commercial customers globally. The EU, the European Free Trade Association, and the UK remained exceptions until now. Because the UK falls outside the EU Data Boundary and lacks in-country processing commitments for these models, Microsoft is updating the default setting.
Richard Speed wrote for The Register that administrators who leave the setting untouched are effectively opting in. Anthropic operates as a Microsoft subprocessor, handling customer data under strict company contracts. Meanwhile, advanced models like Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 remain off by default everywhere and require separate administrator opt-in.
How does this affect the UK Public sector and Anthropic Claude models?
The update spans Claude in Copilot, Researcher, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365 apps. At the same time, Microsoft is retiring a setting that previously limited Claude strictly to Microsoft 365 apps. The Institute for Public Policy Research released a report named Locked In, revealing that less than £1 in every £6 spent with the 150 largest technology suppliers stays with British companies.
Out of £19.2bn spent with the largest suppliers, the US captures £9.2bn once researchers look past headquarters to ownership, staff, and resellers. NHS England previously rolled out Copilot to 505,000 staff under a national licensing deal from June 2023. The IPPR report also mentioned US restrictions on Anthropic models and limits on early access for the UK’s AI Security Institute.
What happens next?
UK administrators who prefer to keep Claude switched off have until December 9 to change their configuration. The IPPR recommends that Whitehall purchase technology as a single customer to simplify supplier switching. It also suggests the UK collaborate with France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea on advanced AI access while the government pursues a £500m Sovereign AI Fund.
Frequently asked questions
Microsoft turns on Claude by default for UK Copilot customers starting from December 9, according to reports from The Register.
Anthropic processes customer data in the US as a Microsoft subprocessor handling data under Microsoft contracts and oversight.
The change covers Claude in Copilot, Researcher, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps.
No, some advanced Anthropic models such as Claude Fable 5 and Claude Mythos 5 stay off by default everywhere and require administrators to opt in separately.
The report found that less than £1 in every £6 spent with the 150 largest technology suppliers stays with British companies, with the US receiving £9.2bn out of £19.2bn total spending.
Based on reporting by The Next Web. Read the original article
