Through the partnership, Coca-Cola and Microsoft aim to jointly experiment with new technology including Azure OpenAI Service to develop innovative generative AI use cases across multiple business functions
Coca-Cola announces an investment of $1.1bn in the Microsoft Cloud and its generative AI capabilities. (Credit: prashanth dara/Wikimedia Commons)
American beverage company Coca-Cola has announced an investment of $1.1bn in Microsoft Cloud and its generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
The commitment has come as part of its five-year collaboration with Microsoft to expedite cloud and generative AI initiatives.
Through the partnership, both parties aim to jointly experiment with new technology including Azure OpenAI Service to develop innovative generative AI use cases across multiple business functions.
The companies will also test the use of Copilot for Microsoft 365 in improving workplace productivity.
According to the companies, the partnership is in line with Coca-Cola’s core technology strategy systemwide. It will also allow the adoption of the latest technology as well as support innovation and productivity worldwide for the beverage company.
Microsoft executive vice president and chief commercial officer Judson Althoff said: “Through our long-term partnership, we have made significant progress to accelerate system-wide AI Transformation across The Coca-Cola Company and its network of independent bottlers worldwide.
“We are proud to support Coca-Cola as it continues to embrace the era of AI and looks to solutions like Azure OpenAI Service and Copilot for Microsoft 365 to drive innovation across every area of its business.”
Coca-Cola has shifted all its applications to Microsoft Azure. Currently, the company is exploring the use of generative AI-driven digital assistants on Azure OpenAI Service.
The move by the soft drinks firm is expected to assist employees in enhancing customer experiences, optimising operations, facilitating innovation, gaining a competitive advantage, bolstering efficiency, and exploring new growth opportunities.
Coca-Cola senior vice president and global chief information officer Neeraj Tolmare said: “Our expanded partnership with Microsoft is an important next chapter in Coca-Cola’s journey toward a digital-first enterprise powered by emerging technologies.
“Microsoft’s capabilities help accelerate our adoption of AI to create incremental enterprise value.”