Microsoft is doubling down on its AI-powered productivity assistant Copilot, rolling out new paid offerings for consumers and small businesses while expanding access for larger enterprises.
The goal is to drive revenue growth by getting more users hooked on Copilot’s uncanny ability to generate content and automate tasks.
The New Copilot Pro Plan Targets Consumers
Microsoft launched Copilot Pro, a new $20 (KES 3,210) per month consumer plan that brings Copilot’s AI capabilities to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote across PC, Mac, and iPad. To access the plan, users need an existing Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription.
Copilot Pro essentially overlays the same Copilot features enterprise users have enjoyed, letting consumers create content with simple voice prompts. In Word and OneNote, Copilot writes, edits, summarizes, and generates text on demand.
In Excel and PowerPoint, it turns natural language commands into full-blown presentations and data visualizations. And in Outlook, Copilot helps draft email responses and fine-tune the length or tone.
Beyond the deep Microsoft 365 integrations, Copilot Pro subscribers get 100 daily “boosts” in Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator) to speed up AI image generation.
They also get early access to the latest AI models, like GPT-4 Turbo, for better performance during peak usage. Down the road, customization options like Copilot GPT Builder will let users create tailored “Copilots” for specific topics.
Copilot Now Available to More Microsoft 365 Business Users
In tandem with the Copilot Pro launch, Microsoft opened up Copilot access to millions more business users. Now any organization with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 E3/E5 or Office 365 E3/E5 can purchase Copilot capabilities.
The previous 300-user minimum and Microsoft 365 license requirements have been eliminated.
There are some key extras Copilot for Microsoft 365 customers get over the Copilot Pro plan. First is Copilot integration directly within Teams, which provides real-time meeting summaries, follow-up recommendations, and automated agenda creation.
Enterprises also benefit from enhanced data protection and Semantic Index mapping to deliver more personalized, contextually relevant suggestions.
Copilot Studio allows deeper customization too, letting users build unique chatbots and plugins leveraging first-party data. Between the expanded functionality and larger eligible user base, Microsoft is angling to drive more Copilot revenue from businesses small and large.
Free Copilot Offerings Expand to Mobile and New Languages
While pivoting towards paid offerings, Microsoft hasn’t forgotten about its base of free Copilot users. The company unveiled several new features that add functionality and platform support for non-paying customers.
Chief among them is Copilot GPTs – AI models fine-tuned for niche interest areas like fitness, travel and cooking. These customized “Copilots” provide more relevant and detailed responses to domain-specific questions. Microsoft launched a handful of GPTs this morning within the Copilot web interface.
The company also introduced a free Copilot mobile app for Android and iOS. The app grants access to GPT-4, DALL-E 3 for generating images, and cross-device syncing of chat history. Users can leverage photos on their phones during conversations with Copilot for more contextual responses.
Additionally, over the next month Microsoft plans to integrate Copilot directly into its Microsoft 365 mobile apps. The update will allow free users with a Microsoft account to export AI-generated content into Word docs or PDFs.
The Goal: Get More Users Hooked on Copilot
With OpenAI’s generative AI capabilities proving enormously costly to run at scale, Microsoft needs to convert free Copilot users into happy, paying subscribers. The expansions announced target both consumer and business audiences with clear revenue-driving potential.
By tightly integrating Copilot with its leading Microsoft 365 and Teams products, Microsoft creates a compelling reason to upgrade – even for users of competing apps like Google Workspace.
And by opening access to smaller businesses, freshly launching a paid consumer plan, and expanding platform support, the company puts Copilot in front of many more potential long-term customers.
If Microsoft convinces even a small percentage to stick around, Copilot could quickly evolve into a cash cow justifying its massive AI investments.
For users, the question will be whether Copilot drives enough personal and professional productivity gains to warrant the monthly subscription fees.
