Microsoft Transforms Copilot into Unified AI Super App

Microsoft has revamped its AI assistant Copilot into an all-in-one 'super app' that bundles three AI capabilities - chat, coding, and agents - into a single interface.

The redesigned Copilot app now has three tabs: Home, Code, and Autopilot. The Home tab offers features previously available in Copilot Chat and Cowork, including a new 'Today' feature for personalized dashboards of important emails, meeting requests, Teams threads, and more.

The Code tool allows users to generate apps, trackers, and dashboards, which can be shared with colleagues as cloud-hosted internal apps. The AI coding tool is powered by the same models underpinning GitHub Copilot and runs in a sandboxed environment for security precautions.

Autopilot, previously known as Scout, is an always-on AI agent that functions as a 'digital teammate' capable of running even when users are asleep. It operates within its own cloud computer instance and can be used for tasks like watching Teams channels, running recurring work tasks, or handling follow-ups.

Microsoft aims to replicate the success of Office 365 by positioning Copilot as an AI productivity tool for its core enterprise user base. Jared Spataro, chief marketing officer of AI at work at Microsoft, said, 'Just as Office defined work for the PC era, the new Copilot is built to define it for the AI era.'

The revamped app will be rolled out in phases, with the Home and Code tabs available to those part of Microsoft's Frontier programme for early access AI features. Autopilot will be in private preview later this month, while the Code tab will also be in preview for Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro subscribers later this year.

The usage-based billing model for Cowork, Code, and Autopilot parts of the new Copilot app means users who have purchased a regular Copilot license will have access to Copilot in Chat, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.