Coca-Cola signs $1.1bn deal with Microsoft in generative AI push

The Coca-Cola Company has signed a $1.1bn deal with Microsoft to improve its cloud computing and adopt the tech giant’s generative AI capabilities on a global scale.

Through the five-year “strategic partnership”, Coca-Cola and Microsoft will jointly experiment with new technology like Azure OpenAI Service to develop “innovative generative AI use cases across various business functions”, according to a statement.

Coca-Cola has moved all its applications to Microsoft Azure, with most major independent bottling partners following suit.

The drinks group has been working with generative AI for nearly a year and has already implemented Azure OpenAI Service in “marketing to manufacturing and supply chain and beyond”.

“Through our long-term partnership, we’ve made significant progress to accelerate systemwide AI transformation across The Coca-Cola Company and its network of independent bottlers worldwide,” Microsoft chief commercial officer Judson Althoff said.

The Sprite owner is exploring the use of generative AI-powered digital assistants on Azure OpenAI Service to help employees improve customer experiences and streamline operations, the company wrote in a statement

Just Drinks