SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Microsoft has unveiled new AI-driven features for its Microsoft 365 suite on Wednesday, January 15 aiming to enhance user productivity and streamline workflows. In a LinkedIn post on Jan. 15, CEO Satya Nadella introduced Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat, tools designed to integrate advanced AI capabilities directly into popular applications like Word, Excel, and Teams.
“This is a big step forward in making AI accessible to every employee in every business. It’s not just about having access to Copilot—it’s about unleashing a swarm of intelligent agents to supercharge your productivity and unlock the full ROI of AI,” said Nadella in a video introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
Nadella emphasized that these innovations are set to “transform work and unleash creativity,” highlighting the company’s commitment to leveraging AI to improve user experiences.
“We continue to rapidly add new capabilities like Copilot Actions to tackle people’s biggest pain points at work,” the company said in a statement.
The Copilot system combines large language models with user data from calendars, emails, and documents, enabling it to generate content, summarize information, and automate repetitive tasks.
Copilot Chat, a conversational AI assistant, allows users to interact with their data more naturally. By inputting commands or questions, users can receive detailed responses, insights, and suggestions, facilitating more efficient decision-making processes.
The Copilot Chat includes web-grounded chat with GPT-4o to do market research, write a strategy document, or prepare for a meeting. Using natural language, anyone can easily create agents to automate repetitive tasks and business processes—directly in Copilot Chat.
Copilot Chat also includes foundational capabilities of the Copilot Control System, including enterprise data protection (EDP) for data privacy and security and the ability to govern access and manage the usage and life cycle of Copilot and agents, as well as measurement and reporting.
These announcements align with Microsoft’s broader strategy to incorporate AI across its product lines, aiming to redefine the future of work by making sophisticated AI tools accessible to a wide range of users.