The new structure also brings Microsoft 365 more directly into Copilot. Subscribers will be able to access applications and files from services including Word, Excel and Outlook without leaving the unified experience. Users can also connect Copilot with email, calendars and cloud services associated with their accounts.
Core Copilot capabilities will remain available to both free and paid users, including text and voice conversations, image creation and file uploads. Microsoft 365 subscribers will continue to receive higher usage limits.
Existing users will be transitioned differently depending on which version of Copilot they currently use. People using the standard desktop or web app with personal accounts will move to an updated version, with chat history and most existing content migrating with them. Those who currently use both Copilot applications with a personal account will similarly have their conversations and content transferred into the consolidated app.
For work and school users, the Microsoft 365 Copilot branding and icon will change, while much of the existing experience will remain intact. Web users will be redirected to the updated Copilot service, and desktop and mobile users will receive guidance during the transition.
The consolidation will also remove several existing features. Microsoft is retiring Copilot group chats, Podcasts and Deep Research beginning August 18. Content stored in group chats, including messages and images, will no longer be accessible after that point, so users who want to preserve it will need to copy it elsewhere beforehand. Existing podcasts can also be downloaded before access ends.
Deep Research will stop accepting new research requests, although previously generated reports will remain accessible. Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers can continue creating detailed research reports through the separate Researcher tool.
Other parts of Copilot could experience disruptions during the transition, including Shopping and Copilot Health. The company has not specified what will happen to the dedicated Copilot key included on many newer Windows PC keyboards.
The unified app represents Microsoft’s effort to reduce the separation between Copilot’s consumer and workplace experiences while keeping the underlying accounts distinct. Users will still need to switch between personal Microsoft accounts and their professional credentials rather than combining the two environments.
Microsoft previously said it had more than 20 million paid enterprise Copilot customers as of April. With the upcoming consolidation, those workplace users and people using Copilot personally will increasingly access the same application, even as their accounts and data remain separated.
This analysis is based on reporting from Gizmodo.
Image courtesy of Microsoft.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
