Microsoft's new AI pricing: pay for what your bots do

Technology Nov 21, 2025

Microsoft is shaking up its pricing for tools like Word, Excel, and Teams—Microsoft is moving toward charging based on how much work their AI agents actually do for you, not just by the number of users.
These smart assistants are set to take over repetitive tasks that used to need a human touch.

Why it matters (and who else is joining in)

EY believes this "service-as-a-software" model means businesses pay for real results powered by AI.
Big consulting firms like Deloitte and EY are also testing similar systems, and other tech giants—including Google—are rolling out usage-based billing too.
It's all part of a bigger move toward letting AI handle the busywork so people can focus on more interesting stuff.