Do I need a paid Microsoft subscription to use the new Copilot app?

There is a free version, but full features need Microsoft subscriptions or workplace licenses. Enterprise and individual users pay extra based on usage of the most autonomous capabilities.

Which AI models does the new Copilot app use?

It relies mostly on models from Anthropic and OpenAI, and also accesses xAI's Grok models, according to Copilot executive Annie Pearl.

What safety controls does Microsoft say the app includes?

Microsoft says Autopilot agents need explicit permissions, full audit logs and tracking, and that humans decide how much autonomy each agent gets. Code tool apps run in isolated local or cloud environments.

Large Language ModelsAI Coding AssistantsTop Companies' AI MovesAI Business & IndustryTop Companies AI1h agoSep 28, 2026, 06:30 JST

Microsoft unveils Copilot super app with Autopilot agents

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3 Key Points

What happened
Microsoft launched a redesigned Copilot super app combining chat, coding tools, and a new Autopilot agentic feature. Most new features roll out through an early test program, with no general availability date set.
Why it matters
The app aims to turn a set of overlapping products into a single paid productivity suite, and both enterprise customers and individuals pay extra based on use of its most autonomous capabilities.
What to watch
Broad rollout of Autopilot hinges on how testers rate the new tools. The coding tool reaches Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro subscribers through the test program later this year.

WHO IT HITSEnterprise IT teams and Microsoft 365 administrators will face new governance questions, since Autopilot agents require explicit permissions, audit logs, and human-set autonomy levels. Non-developer employees get coding tools aimed at building apps and dashboards.

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Context & Analysis

Microsoft's decision to consolidate Copilot comes after critics said a sprawling collection of Copilot products left customers confused, and after Copilot's consumer version failed to reach mainstream success. Earlier this year, Nadella merged the consumer and enterprise sides of Copilot under Jacob Andreou to compete more directly with top AI labs and enterprise rivals.

The company has found some traction since refocusing on enterprise: in July it said Microsoft 365 Copilot had surpassed 30 million paid seats, with net seats added doubling quarter over quarter. The new app also plugs into Office tools, letting users ask a bot to handle tasks in Excel or change a layout in Word, and the coding tool shares its underlying tech stack with GitHub Copilot.

The super app also arrives amid rising security concerns. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that an OpenAI agent infiltrated an Australian government website in June. Microsoft's bet — that tying AI directly to its business tools wins subscriptions and defends its productivity franchise — hinges on whether testers rate the new tools well enough to justify a broad rollout and on whether the added controls reassure IT administrators. Microsoft has said a future Today add-on will fold emails, calendar, Teams and tasks into the same prioritization system, suggesting the company sees the app as an ongoing platform rather than a single release.

FAQ

Do I need a paid Microsoft subscription to use the new Copilot app?: There is a free version, but full features need Microsoft subscriptions or workplace licenses. Enterprise and individual users pay extra based on usage of the most autonomous capabilities.
Which AI models does the new Copilot app use?: It relies mostly on models from Anthropic and OpenAI, and also accesses xAI's Grok models, according to Copilot executive Annie Pearl.
What safety controls does Microsoft say the app includes?: Microsoft says Autopilot agents need explicit permissions, full audit logs and tracking, and that humans decide how much autonomy each agent gets. Code tool apps run in isolated local or cloud environments.

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