Harvard University has announced that its graduate medical school has signed a licensing agreement with Microsoft, granting the tech giant access to its trusted consumer health content covering various diseases and wellness topics.
The agreement, made through Harvard Health Publishing, the consumer health division of Harvard Medical School, will allow Microsoft to pay a licensing fee in exchange for the use of Harvard’s medically vetted materials. The collaboration aims to strengthen Microsoft’s position in the digital health information space by embedding authoritative medical insights into its artificial intelligence systems.
According to the university, the partnership will help enhance Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant, which currently powers applications across the company’s productivity tools such as Word and Outlook. The Wall Street Journal, which first broke the story, reported that the deal is a strategic move by Microsoft to bolster Copilot’s ability to provide accurate and reliable responses to users seeking health and wellness information. The latest version of Copilot, expected to debut later this month, will leverage content from Harvard Health Publishing to answer user queries on medical conditions, preventive care, and lifestyle management.
The partnership also forms part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to reduce its reliance on OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which has been the backbone of its AI ecosystem. In recent months, Microsoft has diversified its AI investments, integrating Anthropic’s Claude model and developing proprietary AI systems to strengthen its independence in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector. The collaboration with Harvard therefore adds another dimension to Microsoft’s push for reliability and depth in AI-driven information services.
By partnering with one of the world’s most prestigious medical institutions, Microsoft aims to give users more trustworthy and evidence-based health insights, particularly as AI adoption expands into sensitive fields like healthcare.
Analysts say the move could enhance Copilot’s credibility, offering users medically reviewed responses while minimizing the risk of misinformation. The agreement marks a significant milestone for both organizations—Harvard expanding the reach of its public health mission through technology, and Microsoft fortifying its AI assistant with world-class medical expertise.