Gustavo’s Corner: AI News for CFOs - #4
This edition highlights how the AI landscape is rapidly shifting from experimentation to integrated productivity across major enterprise platforms. Microsoft’s rollouts signal a direct push toward automation and low-code development, making process optimization accessible to non-technical teams. Anthropic’s new Skills and Claude for Excel reinforce a clear move toward embedded, task-specific AI—bringing analytical, presentation, and compliance capabilities directly into tools CFOs already rely on. OpenAI’s acquisition of Sky underscores a growing trend toward intelligent desktop automation, potentially transforming how finance teams interact with their daily workflows. Meanwhile, Claude Haiku 4.5 demonstrates the industry’s focus on cost-efficient, fast-performing AI models suited for scalable finance applications. Finally, the IBM–Anthropic partnership signals a deepening emphasis on governance, transparency, and cost control.
Microsoft is expanding the power of Copilot with two major additions — App Builder and Workflows. App Builder allows anyone to create and edit full-stack applications using simple conversational prompts, eliminating the need for coding expertise. Meanwhile, Workflows brings seamless automation to repetitive tasks across the Copilot platform, helping teams boost efficiency and productivity. Both features come included with the existing $30-per-month Copilot subscription, adding significant value for business users.
Anthropic introduces Skills for Claude, a feature that lets teams train Claude on job-specific tasks through customizable instruction folders. With Skills, organizations can teach Claude how to analyze spreadsheets, create branded presentations, or follow internal guidelines — tailoring the assistant to their workflow. Anthropic is also launching enterprise search, allowing teams to query connected tools in one place, while expanding Claude’s integration with Microsoft 365 apps for smoother collaboration.
OpenAI has acquired Sky, a macOS-based assistant developed by Software Applications, to bring a new layer of intelligent automation to Mac users. Sky acts as a context-aware desktop companion that can read screens, automate software tasks, and assist with writing or coding. The software is not yet released, but the acquisition signals OpenAI’s growing investment in platform-native AI experiences. Additionally, OpenAI is rolling out Shared Projects to all users, enhancing collaboration within the ChatGPT ecosystem.
Anthropic has also launched Claude Haiku 4.5, a smaller and more affordable AI model built for speed and efficiency. Despite its compact size, Haiku 4.5 matches or exceeds the performance of models like Claude Sonnet 4, GPT-5, and Gemini 2.5 in key areas such as coding, tool use, and visual reasoning. The model is ideal for lightweight deployments, parallel agents, or any scenario where low latency and cost efficiency are critical.
Claude for Excel is now available in beta as a research preview, giving users direct access to Claude within Microsoft Excel. Through an integrated sidebar, Claude can read, analyze, modify, and create Excel workbooks — all while providing full transparency into its actions. Users can review the specific cells Claude references and navigate its explanations in real time, ensuring clear accountability and trust in automated analysis.
IBM and Anthropic have announced a strategic partnership aimed at advancing enterprise-ready AI. The collaboration brings Claude’s powerful language models into IBM’s software portfolio, combining performance with built-in governance, security, and cost management. The goal is to deliver measurable productivity gains while maintaining the oversight and control enterprises need. For finance and technology leaders, this partnership represents a step forward in building secure, scalable AI solutions designed for real business impact.
Why this news is important to CFOs and their teams:
It is underscored how AI is moving from experimentation to enterprise-wide integration — with direct implications for finance leadership. Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and IBM are all embedding intelligent automation, governance, and customization into the tools CFOs already use. These innovations signal a new phase where finance teams can automate reporting, streamline analysis, and enforce compliance with minimal technical input. For CFOs, the takeaway is clear: AI is no longer a future investment — it’s an operational advantage that enhances productivity, transparency, and control. The challenge now lies in aligning adoption with governance and cost strategy to capture value responsibly.
Gustavo
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