Microsoft Integrates Copilot Chat Functionality into Office Applications

Microsoft Integrates Copilot Chat Functionality into Office Applications

Microsoft is expanding access to Copilot Chat, bringing the AI-powered assistant to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for paying Microsoft 365 business customers.

🔍 What is Copilot Chat?

• A content-aware chat assistant that works inside Office apps
• Unlike full Microsoft 365 Copilot, it uses web data only
• Appears in a side pane, providing real-time help without switching apps

📌 Licensing & Costs

• Included at no additional cost for users with Microsoft 365, Business, Teams, and Office 365 licenses tied to Entra accounts
• For broader use (all work data across docs, emails, and meetings), a Microsoft 365 Copilot license is required

🗓 Rollout Timeline

• Starts this month, completing by mid-November 2025
• The Microsoft 365 Copilot app will be auto-installed on Windows devices outside the EEA (admins can opt out in the Apps Admin Center)

🌍 What’s next?
Microsoft also announced it will bring Copilot agents to Edge sidebar later this year, enabling direct access during browsing.

💡 Why it matters
This move highlights Microsoft’s push to integrate AI directly into productivity workflows, minimizing friction and making Copilot more accessible to everyday business users.

At Alcaeus Services, we help organizations deploy and secure AI-powered productivity tools, balancing efficiency with compliance and data protection.