Microsoft has released a list of the latest features and enhancement updates for Microsoft 365 Copilot from the previous month.
September saw a raft of additions to the generative AI chatbot with new admin, management, and end-user capabilities from a user enablement toolkit to private chats with Copilot in Loop.
The tech giant also revealed a second wave of Copilot features for Microsoft 365 last month, which included the release of Copilot Pages, Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps, and Copilot agents.
Copilot for Admin and Management
Microsoft has added the ‘Copilot User Enablement Toolkit’ to the Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption hub. It contains communication templates and resources to send to users and managers for improved Copilot engagements. The content can be tailored to fit the needs of your business.
Expanded controls have been introduced to help manage the availability of Copilot in Teams meetings. IT admins will now be able to turn Copilot ‘Off’ per tenant, per user, or both, via the Teams Admin Center. Meeting organisers will also be able to access these controls in meeting options, in which they will have a choice to ‘Allow Copilot’ during meetings, during and after meetings, or simply turn it off.
Copilot for End Users
Images can be generated directly in Business Chat and the Visual creator Copilot agent through natural language prompts. Business Chat uses advanced AI to generate visual content, simplifying the use of visual content with user workflows.
Since August, users have been able to communicate with Business Chat using Outlook mobile and Outlook for mac, through which they can request email summaries, surface essential work information, and prepare for meetings. Copilot can also help users wishing to escalate lengthy email discussions to a live conversation through its ‘Schedule with Copilot’ button.
Private chats with Copilot are now possible in Loop via a pane on the side of the app. The content from their Loop page, the web, and their organisation can be leveraged to ask questions, brainstorm and catch up. This feature was made available last month.
Since July on Web and last month on both desktop and Mac, longer blocks of content in draft can be referenced using Copilot in Word, up to around 75 thousand words. Users can also instantly generate drafts using one-click example prompts.
Typed and handwritten notes can be analysed in OneNote using ‘think with ink’ in Copilot.
A new blog series has been setup to improve users’ Copilot and Microsoft 365 skills. This month, the ‘go-to source’ for skill-building includes Copilot adoption resources, content for SMB organisations, technical videos, learning paths, events, and more.
Last week, Microsoft, Google, Amazon signed the EU’s Artificial Intelligence pact along with around 100 further companies.
The AI pact is made up of three central commitments, albeit voluntary: adopting a strategy that is compliant with the AI Act, identifying and mapping potentially high-risk systems, and promoting AI literacy and awareness.
Meta is one prominent name that has not yet signed the commitment, although it has said it is open to discussions. Apple is another missing signatory from the “Big Four” technology companies.
