Microsoft continues to expand the capabilities of Copilot across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. The latest Message Center updates introduce powerful new features that enhance creativity, productivity, and user experience. Here’s a breakdown of the most exciting updates you should know about.
Creativity meets AI with the general availability of image generation in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. This feature empowers users to create visuals directly within supported Microsoft 365 apps using natural language prompts.
Key Highlights:
• License Requirement: Full access requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license; limited functionality may be available to commercial users without one.
• Default Availability: The feature will be enabled by default once the rollout is complete.
• No Admin Action Needed: However, it’s recommended to inform users and update training materials.
• Data Considerations: This introduces new ways of interacting with generative AI, potentially affecting how customer data is processed.
Microsoft introduces People Skills, an AI-powered enhancement to user profiles that brings contextualised skill data into the spotlight.
What’s New:
• Built-in Skills Library: Users can explore and manage skills across Microsoft 365 apps.
• Skills-Driven Experiences: These include personalised suggestions and improved collaboration tools.
• Analytics & Management: Skills landscape reports and a Skills Agent provide deeper insights.
• Privacy First: Users control visibility and privacy of inferred skills.
• Admin Setup Required: While rollout is automatic, configuration in the admin center is necessary.
Creating data-driven presentations just got easier. Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint now supports referencing Excel files during presentation creation.
Feature Details:
• Supported Platforms: Available on PowerPoint for Windows, Mac, and the web.
• Search & Insert: Users can search for Excel files by name or URL from OneDrive or SharePoint.
• License Requirement: A Microsoft 365 Copilot license is required.
• Admin Note: No action needed, but reviewing configurations and informing users is advised.
The Project Manager Agent (PMA) in Microsoft Planner now includes web search capabilities, enhancing task support with real-time information.
What to Expect:
• Enhanced Task Assistance: Web search helps users find relevant content and suggestions.
• License Requirement: Requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and access to Planner.
• Seamless Rollout: No changes needed for users already enabled for web grounding.
• Admin Guidance: Automatic rollout; review configurations and notify users.
These updates reflect Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to making Copilot a central part of the modern workplace. From AI-generated images to smarter project planning and personalised skill insights, Microsoft 365 Copilot is evolving into a truly intelligent assistant.
For more insights on M365 Copilot, see Tom Arbuthnot’s evaluations and insights on Empowering.Cloud.