As we embark on a new year, the increasing adoption and appreciation of Microsoft Copilot for both professional and personal use are noteworthy. Microsoft’s aim is to empower individuals and organizations worldwide by making Copilot, their everyday AI companion, accessible to millions of users globally. This commitment has reached a significant milestone with over 5 billion chats and 5 billion images processed to date. As Copilot gains popularity, valuable user feedback is shaping its continuous improvement. Notably, there is a group of power users, including creators, researchers, and programmers, seeking quicker access to the latest features. Additionally, Microsoft 365 customers express the desire to integrate Copilot into personal applications.
In response to these needs, Microsoft introduces several enhancements to cater to power users, creators, and those seeking an elevated Copilot experience. This includes the launch of Copilot Pro, a premium subscription offering advanced AI capabilities, integration of Copilot with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, and new features like the ability to create Copilot GPTs. The Copilot app is also now available for iOS and Android phones. Furthermore, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is expanding its availability to businesses of all sizes, including small- and medium-sized enterprises.
**Copilot Pro: Elevating Copilot Experience for Individuals**
Copilot Pro, a new subscription service, is designed to provide individuals with advanced features and capabilities. It offers a seamless AI experience across devices, incorporating context from the web, PCs, apps, and soon, phones. Copilot Pro includes access to Copilot within Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. Subscribers gain priority access to the latest AI models, starting with OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo. This ensures faster performance during peak times and the upcoming ability to switch between models for a customized experience. The subscription also introduces Image Creator from Designer, offering faster and enhanced AI image creation with 100 boosts per day.
One distinctive feature is the Copilot GPT Builder, allowing users to create their customized Copilot tailored for specific topics, further enhancing personalization. Copilot Pro is available at a subscription cost of $20 per month per user.
**Copilot for Microsoft 365: Empowering Organizations**
Copilot for Microsoft 365, which became generally available for enterprises in November, is now extending its accessibility to businesses of all sizes. Originally requiring a minimum purchase of 300 seats, this restriction is lifted for commercial plans. Small businesses with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard subscriptions can purchase between one and 299 seats at $30 per person per month. Copilot for Microsoft 365, designed for organizations, offers an AI companion across various work-related data, including emails, meetings, chats, and documents. Integrated into daily-use applications like Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Copilot streamlines tasks and enhances creativity. The offering adheres to enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance standards.
Microsoft is also enabling its network of Cloud Solution Provider partners to facilitate Copilot for Microsoft 365 for commercial customers. The expansion aims to empower businesses of all sizes to leverage AI for increased productivity.
**Additional Copilot Updates: Customization and Mobility**
Microsoft introduces Copilot GPTs, allowing users to customize Copilot’s behavior on specific topics of interest. Initial themes include fitness, travel, cooking, and more, with Copilot Pro subscribers gaining the ability to create their GPTs using the upcoming Copilot GPT Builder.
The Copilot mobile app is now available for Android and iOS, extending Copilot’s functionality on the go. This mobile app provides flexibility by allowing Copilot queries and chats to sync seamlessly between phones and PCs. The same capabilities available on PCs, including access to GPT-4, Dall-E 3 for image creation, and image usage from the phone, are available on the mobile app.
Furthermore, Copilot is integrated into the Microsoft 365 mobile app for Android and iOS, accessible to individuals with a Microsoft account. This feature is rolling out gradually over the next month, enabling users to access Copilot within the Microsoft 365 app and export created content to Word or PDF documents.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s expansion of Copilot across various subscription models and devices demonstrates its commitment to democratizing AI. From individual power users to small businesses and enterprises, Microsoft aims to offer an AI companion that enhances productivity, creativity, and personalization.
