Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella introduced the newest features of Microsoft 365 Copilot in a video released on Monday. This update includes a new feature called Copilot Pages that allows multiple users to collaborate on a shared page with the assistance of an AI chatbot. The goal of these new features is to address skepticism about the value of AI in productivity applications and justify the premium price for business users.
The Copilot Pages feature is part of a wave of new AI features for Microsoft 365 programs such as Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. These features aim to enhance collaboration and productivity for business users. This comes amid reports that some customers are not finding Microsoft’s AI features worth the extra cost. With increased competition in the market for business and productivity applications, Microsoft is working to stay ahead by continually improving and expanding their AI offerings.
Microsoft’s Copilot customers have been growing steadily, with total customers growing more than 60% quarter over quarter and the number of people using Copilot at work doubling over the same period. Companies like telecom giant Vodafone have signed on to use the technology for tens of thousands of employees. While AI traction has been seen in other areas like GitHub Copilot and Azure OpenAI, Microsoft is working to further integrate AI into their flagship productivity applications.
During the announcement of the new features, Microsoft highlighted the general availability of Copilot in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook. Updates include the integration of Python for data analysis in Excel, the ability to create presentations using natural language in PowerPoint, incorporating meeting transcripts in Teams, prioritizing emails in Outlook, and the ability to reference emails and meetings in Word AI queries. Microsoft also introduced Copilot agents, AI assistants designed to automate business processes, with a new agent builder feature in BizChat and SharePoint.
Overall, Microsoft is continuing to innovate and enhance the capabilities of its AI-powered productivity applications in response to customer feedback and market competition. The company’s focus on improving collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for business users through AI features is a key aspect of their strategy moving forward. As AI technology continues to evolve, Microsoft is positioning itself as a leader in providing cutting-edge solutions for businesses looking to leverage AI in their daily operations.
