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4 clusters · 26 sources · 16 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: TECHNOLOGY

Microsoft expands in‑house AI visual and voice tools

Entities: MAI-Image-2.5-Pro · PowerPoint · Dynamics 365 Contact Center · Microsoft · Microsoft Corporation

Overview

In early July 2026 Midjourney V8.1 and AI head‑shot generators gave marketers 2K‑resolution, production‑quality images. Later that month Microsoft introduced its own generative models—MAI‑Image‑2.5‑Pro and MAI‑Voice‑2‑Flash—integrated into PowerPoint, Bing Image Creator, Dynamics 365, Azure Voice Live, GitHub Copilot, Excel and OneDrive. On 23 July the company launched a public preview, pricing the image model at $5 per million text tokens, $8 per million image inputs and $106 per million image outputs, and the voice model at $15 per million characters. Microsoft reported GPU cost reductions of up to 84 % for image generation in PowerPoint and up to 89 % for voice workloads, and highlighted faster inference (Voice‑Flash twice as fast) and tighter latency, moderation and compliance controls. A follow‑up announcement on 26 July reiterated these savings, noted that the preview is available through Microsoft Foundry, provided pricing in euros (≈€4.60 per million text tokens) and emphasized alignment with emerging EU AI‑Act requirements. The rollout replaces OpenAI and Anthropic services across the Office suite and Bing, underscoring Microsoft’s shift toward proprietary, open‑weight AI that lowers operating costs and reduces reliance on external providers.

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Microsoft's internal AI models aim to lower costs as engineers tackle AI‑assisted design

    Microsoft shifts Office queries to internal MAI models to cut costs, while engineers seek structured AI workflows to avoid hidden friction in model‑based design.

  2. 7 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    Microsoft launches MAI-Image-2.5-Pro and MAI-Voice-2-Flash preview, touts up to 89% cost cuts

    Microsoft previewed MAI-Image-2.5-Pro and MAI-Voice-2-Flash, claiming up to 89% GPU cost cuts in Dynamics 365, 84% in PowerPoint, faster performance and lower pricing via Microsoft Foundry.

  3. 9 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 19 sources
    Microsoft unveils MAI-Image-2.5-Pro and MAI-Voice-2-Flash, slashes AI costs

    Microsoft rolled out MAI‑Image‑2.5‑Pro and MAI‑Voice‑2‑Flash, cutting GPU costs up to 89% and replacing OpenAI models in PowerPoint, Bing, OneDrive and other apps.

  4. 21 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    AI Image Generators Boost Marketing and Creator Visual Content

    Midjourney V8.1 improves AI marketing visuals, while fast, cheap AI headshot tools let creators generate professional portraits at scale.

Sources

blocktempo.com · borncity.com · conterest.de · dev.to · digital-magazin.de · editorialge.com · filmdaily.co · generation-nt.com · haitiinfospro.com · hubsite365.com · ihedn.fr · it-boltwise.de · microcontrollertips.com · news.microsoft.com · news18.com · punto-informatico.it · security-insider.de · shiftdelete.net · slashgear.jp · smist08.wordpress.com · technologyreview.de · the-decoder.com · the-decoder.de · thenextweb.com · thurrott.com · venturebeat.com