Copilot Chat Now Free in M365 Apps

Microsoft has introduced its Copilot Chat AI assistant to a variety of Office applications at no additional cost for Microsoft 365 users.

The Copilot Chat interface is accessible via a side panel in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, reducing the need for app-switching for users seeking AI assistance. Previously, M365 customers accessed Copilot Chat through a separate app.

Copilot Chat assists users with tasks such as drafting documents, analyzing spreadsheets, and catching up on emails. Microsoft stated in a blog post this week that the tool is context-aware, meaning it quickly understands the user's current task and tailors responses to the open file.

The chatbot interface is already available to M365 customers who subscribe to the M365 Copilot add-on, priced at $30 per user monthly. This move exemplifies the broader availability of premium Copilot features to business customers. Last week, Microsoft announced that three role-based Copilot products are available at no extra cost to M365 Copilot subscribers.

Microsoft also unveiled new capabilities within Copilot Chat, including access to OpenAI's ChatGPT 5 model. Users can now upload multiple images when interacting with the chatbot, and the input area has been expanded to allow more room for viewing, editing, and formatting longer prompts, according to Microsoft.

However, to access the full range of Copilot Chat features, customers must pay for the M365 Copilot add-on. The premium version allows the AI assistant to respond to queries based on all work data within their M365 environment, rather than just the open file or email. It also provides 'priority access' to features such as file upload and image generation, Microsoft noted.