Microsoft 365 introduces Copilot and Designer a major step forward in its commitment to innovation by introducing AI-powered tools to its 365 Personal and Family subscriptions. These enhancements, built on 12 years of continuous updates, promise to revolutionize how millions of users interact with productivity apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook.
AI for Everyone: The Copilot Journey
In January 2024, Microsoft began its journey to make Copilot accessible to a broader audience, launching the feature for early adopters. Following a successful pilot program in October 2024, Microsoft is now rolling out Copilot to most of its 84 million consumer subscribers.
Copilot is designed to enhance productivity and creativity by acting as a smart assistant integrated across Microsoft 365 apps. From summarizing lengthy email threads in Outlook to creating meal plans in Word or organizing tasks in OneNote, Copilot transforms mundane tasks into seamless experiences.
Subscribers can also opt for the advanced Copilot Pro plan, catering to users with extensive needs, while businesses can benefit from the enterprise-focused Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Microsoft Designer: Elevating Creativity
In addition to Copilot, Microsoft is introducing the Microsoft Designer app to Personal and Family subscribers. This AI-powered design tool allows users to create and edit images effortlessly, whether it’s removing unwanted objects from holiday photos or generating custom visuals for recipes and projects.
Accessible within Word, PowerPoint, or as a standalone app, Designer empowers users to bring their ideas to life with minimal effort.
Flexible AI Features and Pricing
Subscribers will receive a monthly allotment of AI credits for Copilot and Designer features, including image generation and advanced edits. For families, Copilot will be exclusive to the subscription owner, with the option to upgrade to Copilot Pro for unlimited usage.
To support ongoing innovation, Microsoft is introducing a $3 price increase for Personal and Family plans in the US, effective at renewal. Users can also switch to alternative plans, like the Basic or new Classic options, which do not include AI features.
Privacy and Transparency Commitments
Microsoft emphasized its dedication to AI privacy, ensuring that user data, such as prompts and file content, will not be used to train its AI models. Additionally, users will have the flexibility to enable or disable Copilot features as needed.
How to Access These Features
Existing Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers will automatically gain access to Copilot and Designer upon updating their apps. New users can subscribe directly through Microsoft or authorized retailers.
With these AI-driven updates, Microsoft 365 continues to redefine productivity and creativity, empowering users with tools that make everyday tasks more efficient and enjoyable.
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