Microsoft is expanding its Copilot AI assistant with new coding, agentic AI and Microsoft 365 features as it competes with AI platforms such as ChatGPT and Claude. The company announced several updates aimed at making Copilot a more complete workplace productivity tool.
One of the main additions is Code, a new feature that allows users to create apps, dashboards and other software using natural language prompts. The technology is powered by the same technology behind GitHub Copilot. Microsoft said Code will begin rolling out to early-access customers at the end of the month, while Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro subscribers will be able to preview it later this year.
Microsoft is also introducing Autopilot, an updated version of its Scout AI agent. The digital coworker is designed to perform tasks within an organization while having its own identity in the company directory. Businesses can also control the permissions given to the AI agent.
Annie Pearl, Microsoft corporate vice president of Copilot Product, highlighted the company’s focus on enterprise requirements.
“We’ve worked… to make sure that we were building this in a way that would really be able to be used in the enterprise.”
Microsoft is also bringing Word, Excel and PowerPoint directly into Copilot. This will allow users to work with the Office applications without leaving the Copilot environment, combining AI assistance with familiar productivity tools.
Another update focuses on AI cost management. Microsoft is adding tools that give employees more visibility into the costs associated with their AI usage. This comes as companies look for ways to manage rising expenses from increased enterprise AI adoption.
The Copilot changes show Microsoft’s broader strategy of moving from simple AI conversations toward software creation, automated workplace tasks and integrated productivity tools.
