Microsoft just made a surprising move. The company that owns GitHub Copilot — the most widely-used AI coding assistant — is now telling thousands of its own engineers to use Claude Code instead.
According to The Verge, Microsoft is rolling out Claude Code across its biggest engineering teams, including:
- CoreAI — the new AI engineering group led by former Meta exec Jay Parikh
- Experiences + Devices — responsible for Windows, Microsoft 365, Outlook, Teams, Bing, Edge, and Surface
But here's the twist: it's not just for developers.
Non-Coders Are Being Told to Code
Microsoft is encouraging designers, project managers, and other non-technical employees to use Claude Code for prototyping ideas. This is a massive shift in how companies think about software development.
The message is clear: you don't need to be a developer to build software anymore.
"Software engineers at Microsoft are now expected to use both Claude Code and GitHub Copilot and give feedback comparing the two." — The Verge
Microsoft engineers are essentially being asked to put their own product (GitHub Copilot) head-to-head against the competition. That's how confident Microsoft is in testing alternatives.
The Numbers Tell the Story
- Microsoft is on pace to spend $500 million with Anthropic, according to The Information
- Microsoft is counting Anthropic AI sales toward Azure quotas — normally reserved for their own products or OpenAI
- 91% of Microsoft engineering teams already use GitHub Copilot, yet they're now testing Claude Code
What This Means for You
1. AI Coding Tools Are No Longer Optional
If Microsoft — a company with 100,000+ code repositories — is adopting multiple AI coding tools, it's clear this isn't a trend. It's the new baseline.
2. The "Best" Tool Depends on the Task
Microsoft isn't replacing Copilot with Claude Code. They're using both. The reality is no single AI tool wins at everything:
- Claude Code excels at ease of use and non-technical accessibility
- GitHub Copilot integrates deeply with VS Code and Microsoft's ecosystem
- Cursor offers powerful IDE-level AI features
3. Non-Technical Roles Are Changing
With Microsoft pushing Claude Code to designers and PMs for prototyping, the lines between "technical" and "non-technical" roles are blurring. AI is making coding accessible to everyone.
Why Anthropic Is Winning
Claude Code's success comes down to one thing: approachability.
Anthropic recently launched Cowork alongside Claude Code — a tool specifically designed for non-coding tasks. Here's the kicker: Cowork was built almost entirely by Claude Code itself, in less than two weeks.
"Us humans meet in-person to discuss foundational architectural and product decisions, but all of us devs manage anywhere between 3 to 8 Claude instances implementing features, fixing bugs, or researching potential solutions." — Felix Rieseberg, Anthropic PM
The Bigger Picture: AI Agents Are Here
Microsoft's move signals a future where:
- More autonomous AI agents create code
- Junior developer roles face increasing pressure
- Non-coders can prototype and build without traditional programming skills
This isn't about replacing developers. It's about augmenting everyone's capabilities.
What Should You Do?
- Experiment with multiple AI tools — Don't commit to just one. Try Claude Code, Copilot, Cursor, and others.
- Embrace AI-assisted development — Whether you're a seasoned developer or a designer with an idea, AI can help you build.
- Consider integrated platforms — Tools that combine AI development with databases, automation, and storage (like Serenities AI) can simplify your workflow even further.
The Bottom Line
When Microsoft tells its engineers to use a competitor's product, it's a strong signal about where the industry is heading. Claude Code isn't just another tool — it's becoming the default for approachable, agentic AI development.
The question isn't whether you should use AI coding tools. It's which combination works best for your workflow.