Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant spreads across its products

System will live in its own smartphone app – as well as elsewhere, Microsoft says

Andrew Griffin
Tuesday 16 January 2024 17:52 GMT
Copilot (Microsoft/PA)
Copilot (Microsoft/PA)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Microsoft’s Copilot, the AI system that has already spread to many of its products, will be coming to many more.

The company says it is adding a devoted mobile app to interface with the assistant, as well as adding it to more Microsoft 365 users.

Copilot is Microsoft’s AI chatbot. It is intended to help users out with daily tasks – though Microsoft stresses that, as its name suggests, it is only ever intended as an assistant and that users remain responsible for their work.

After a relatively limited launch last year, it has gradually spread across more products. Initially available only to larger businesses on Microsoft 365, it will now be available to all users of that service – and those that are “power users” can pay for a “Pro” option that will bring more features.

In addition, the US tech firm said it was also introducing Copilot GPTs, smaller versions of the chatbot which users can customise to focus on a single topic of interest, for example travel or cooking.

“With today’s announcements, we continue to bring Copilot to more customers with more options that work for them,” Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s consumer chief marketing officer said.

“Whether you’re looking to get started with Copilot for free, want to supercharge your Copilot experience with Copilot Pro or are an SMB or Enterprise customer looking to increase your productivity in new ways with Copilot for Microsoft 365, there’s a Copilot experience for everyone.”

Earlier this month, Microsoft confirmed that it was changing the set-up of its Windows keyboards for the first time in nearly 30 years by introducing a dedicated Copilot key – which would launch the assistant whenever pressed – and would being appearing on new Windows 11 devices from later this year.

“As we kick off a new year, we’re thrilled to see people increasingly using and loving Microsoft Copilot for work and life,” Mr Mehdi said.

“Our goal is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more by bringing Copilot, the everyday AI companion, to millions of people around the world.”

Additional reporting by Press Association

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in