Microsoft has announced that a free version of Copilot Chat will now be available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for Microsoft 365 business subscribers. This update allows organisations to access AI-powered assistance directly within their documents and files without purchasing a premium licence.
Copilot Chat works in real time, adapting suggestions to the content open in the app. In Word, it can rewrite or summarise text. In Excel, it analyses numbers and highlights key insights. In PowerPoint, it helps structure slides and refine speaker notes. In Outlook, it assists with drafting and managing emails. The assistant works alongside users to improve productivity without requiring external tools.
Microsoft distinguishes this free version from the premium licence, which offers benefits such as access to the GPT-5 model, advanced image generation, the ability to upload files, faster response speeds, and priority access during busy periods. The thirty-dollar monthly licence is designed for enterprises with high-demand workloads.
In October, Microsoft plans to merge its sales, service, and finance Copilots into the broader Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription. Businesses using multiple Copilots will benefit from a simplified plan and potentially lower costs. This integration reflects Microsoft’s strategy to make AI a unified element across enterprise operations.
By embedding Copilot into standard Office apps, Microsoft aims to normalise AI as a regular part of work, rather than a premium add-on. The free Copilot Chat offers value and accessibility at no extra cost, contrasting with earlier AI features tied to more expensive subscriptions.
The tool is expected to change workplace workflows. Reports can be created faster, data understood more efficiently, and communication managed more effectively. Employees can spend less time on routine tasks and focus more on innovation. Microsoft’s decision signals a strong commitment to making AI an essential, everyday companion for business productivity.
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