Microsoft launches the long-awaited 365 Copilot. The AI ​​assistant for Word, Powerpoint, Excel and Co will support you from November 1st if you pay a deductible for it.

Microsoft 365 Copilot can finally fly the nest. After an initial demo in March, the main thing was to wait and see when Microsoft would introduce its AI assistant for the Office apps. This will happen on November 1st, the software giant announced yesterday at a press event in New York.

Copilot is added to Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Outlook and all apps included with the 365 subscription. Do you have to give a presentation by tomorrow? No problem, provide Copilot with a text and you’ll have a presentation with a layout in no time. Are you having trouble getting your first words down on paper in Word? Then Copilot will make it easier for you to get started. Copilot will also be happy to clean up your Outlook inbox or summarize emails for you: the possibilities are endless.

Not free

Of course, Microsoft isn’t just giving away its Copilot for free. Generative AI costs a lot of money to maintain and therefore Copilot must deliver. Since July, we’ve known that the additional cost for 365 Copilot is thirty dollars on top of your monthly subscription price. Do you also need a Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard or Business Premium license? For many of these subscription formulas, this means (more than) doubling the price.

Windows Copilot

If that’s too much money for you, you might still be able to benefit from Copilot in one of its many facets. Windows 11 applications such as Paint and Explorer are also equipped with a smart AI assistant. Microsoft announced during the event that Windows 23H2 will be available to all Windows users starting September 26th.

Google has now prepared its answer to Microsoft 365 Copilot with Duet AI. This AI assistant will do more or less the same thing, but in the Google Workspace applications. During the current trial period, Duet AI is still free, but after that you’ll have to pay an additional $30 per month for it.