Microsoft Opens a New Front in the Fight Over Data for AI Agents

· The Information ·

Microsoft is blocking Databricks from connecting its data platform to Power BI, escalating competition over data tooling in the AI agent era.

Categories: Money & Moves

Excerpt

<p>Microsoft has opened a new front in the AI data wars, blocking partners from connecting their data management tools to a popular product as it tries to defend its business software strength in the era of AI agents.</p> <p>The friction centers on Power BI, a <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/org-charts/microsoft">Microsoft</a> product nearly all Fortune 500 firms use to analyze data about their operations in charts and other visual formats. <a href="https://www.theinformation.com/org-charts/databricks">Databricks</a>, a longtime Microsoft partner that sells tools for managing data and building AI applications, in early March began testing a new feature that makes it easier for its customers to connect information on its platform to such visualization tools.</p>