On 25 September, Microsoft unveiled an updated version of Copilot, which will combine personal and business features in a single product. According to Bloomberg, the company is shifting its focus from a standalone chatbot to document processing, programming and task automation. Basic access for Microsoft account holders will remain, but with limits; the rollout of features will continue over the coming weeks.
Briefly about the main points
- Copilot will combine personal and business features in a single service.
- The assistant will be working with Word, Excel, code and automation.
- Autopilot will collect emails and messages that require a response.
- The free tier will remain available with usage limits.
- New features will be rolled out gradually, depending on the plan and version of the app.
Microsoft is repositioning Copilot from a chatbot to a workspace
According to Bloomberg, work on the combined product took around six months. It has retained some of the design and user features of the personal version, but its main purpose will be to carry out tasks within familiar applications.
Head of Development Jacob Andreou He explained that users expect office software to be as user-friendly as mobile apps. He also noted that private users need powerful tools for working with Excel and PowerPoint.
Bloomberg sees this change as a departure Microsoft from direct competition with OpenAI, Google. and Meta in the personal chatbot segment. This is an assessment of the company’s strategy, not an announcement that Copilot is being shut down for private users.
Documents, code and Autopilot in a single interface
According to the agency, Copilot will allow users to edit Word and Excel documents directly within the app or in a browser. A dedicated programming tab is designed to help users create dashboards and automate tasks — from the initial query to the finished tool — all within a single environment.
Autopilot, formerly known as Scout, is also being integrated into the service. Among the agent’s described functions is the collection of emails and messages on which the user needs to make a decision.
Which features of the personal assistant will be incorporated into the service?
The shared Copilot will retain tools for learning, searching for information, reading the news and answering health-related questions. This means that the work scenarios will complement, rather than completely replace, the familiar personal features.
However, the update described above does not include personalised podcasts or the animated character that used to accompany conversations. The fact that some features have been carried over does not mean that they will all be available to every user on the same terms.
Free access will remain, but features will be rolled out gradually
On the Copilot website, Microsoft confirms that there is a free tier for Microsoft account holders, subject to usage limits. Microsoft 365 subscriptions include the Copilot app, desktop Office applications and additional premium features.
The new product will be rolled out over the coming weeks, according to Bloomberg. You should therefore check the range of available tools in your subscription plan and app version: the announcement does not imply that all features will become available in every account at the same time.
