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Microsoft launched web-grounded search, cited answers, chat and content generation with its Prometheus orchestration layer.
- Conversational search
- Cited web answers
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Microsoft Copilot
A family of consumer and work assistants grounded in the web, Windows context or Microsoft 365 data.
Copilot is not one versioned model. Consumer Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, GitHub Copilot and security/business copilots have different models, data boundaries and feature cycles.
First releasedFebruary 7, 2023 as the new Bing; unified as Microsoft Copilot in late 2023
CompanyMicrosoft
Best forWord, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Microsoft 365 workflows
PricingFree options; Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo; Premium $19.99/mo in US reference
What Microsoft Copilot is today
Microsoft's modern Copilot line began with AI-powered Bing and Edge, then unified its consumer experiences under the Copilot name while developing a distinct Microsoft 365 work assistant.
The current experience adds memory, actions, screen/camera vision, research, pages, podcasts and deeper work agents, depending on product and subscription.
Reading note
Product features and underlying models are documented separately. Roadmap items include only provider-announced work; rumors are excluded.
Major versions and what changed
Selected milestones that materially changed the product.
Microsoft 365 Copilot and unified brand
Workplace Copilot connected LLMs to Microsoft Graph and Office apps; Bing Chat was renamed Microsoft Copilot.
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams assistance
- Work-data grounding
- Commercial data protection
- Unified Copilot identity
New consumer Copilot
Microsoft rebuilt the consumer interface around voice, vision and a more personal companion direction.
- Copilot Voice
- Early Copilot Vision
- Daily and Discover experiences
- New native apps
Memory, Actions, Vision and Research
Copilot added personalization, browser/task actions, camera and screen understanding, Pages, Podcasts and multi-step research.
- Controllable memory
- Copilot Actions
- Vision on mobile and Windows
- Deep Research and Copilot Search
Original Bing Chat vs current Copilot
The comparison uses provider-published capabilities and named evaluations, not a generic marketing score.
| Dimension | Previous | Current | Measured difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Web search, chat and generation | Web, device context, memory, actions and work data | From search companion to multi-surface assistant |
| Input context | Prompt plus web results | Voice, camera, screen, files and permitted Microsoft Graph data | Much broader situational context |
| Output | Answers, links and generated text/images | Pages, podcasts, research reports, work documents and agent actions | More editable deliverables and task completion |
| Product identity | Bing Chat / Bing Chat Enterprise | Consumer Copilot and distinct Microsoft 365 Copilot experiences | Clearer separation by personal and organizational data boundary |
There is no meaningful single Copilot multiplier.
Copilot is a changing orchestration product that can use different foundation models and data sources. Microsoft publishes feature and productivity evidence, but not one controlled score comparing the entire 2023 and 2026 products.
Initial Windows features
The September 2023 Windows update bundled more than 150 features, only some of which were Copilot-related.
Check evidenceDeep Research
Current Research can analyze online sources plus large collections of documents and images.
Check evidenceOverall capability
Different Copilot products and underlying models prevent an apples-to-apples universal number.
How the important features work
What happens behind the button, where it helps and what to verify.
Copilot Search and Deep Research
Experience and limits varyHow it works: Search cross-checks multiple sites for cited answers; Deep Research performs a longer multi-step synthesis across web pages, documents and images.
Best use: Current questions, comparisons and background reports
Watch: Open citations and verify high-stakes conclusions.
Copilot Vision
Platform, region and rollout dependentHow it works: With permission, interprets a camera feed, screen or supported app context and discusses what is visible.
Best use: On-screen help, visual guidance and accessibility
Watch: Be careful with confidential screens and sensitive surroundings.
Memory and personalization
User-controlled and market dependentHow it works: Stores selected preferences and details to tailor later suggestions; users can inspect, manage or opt out.
Best use: Recurring preferences, reminders and personal planning
Microsoft 365 grounding
Requires eligible work or personal subscriptionHow it works: Uses permitted Microsoft Graph context and Office app content to draft, summarize, analyze and create inside work flows.
Best use: Meetings, mail, documents, spreadsheets and presentations
Watch: Data access follows account permissions; generated work still needs owner review.
LIMITS
What the headline features do not guarantee
- Consumer Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot are related but not interchangeable products.
- Feature rollout varies substantially by account type, platform, market, language and administrator policy.
- Actions, research and document generation can make mistakes; users remain responsible for review and authorization.
Announced roadmap, without speculation
Status reflects the provider's latest public wording. “No public date” means there is no verified launch schedule.
Rolling out
Broader companion features
Microsoft continues expanding Vision, Actions, Memory and research across Windows, web and mobile, with varying market availability.
Official announcementRolling out
Human-agent work
Microsoft 365 Copilot is expanding Researcher, Analyst, Agent Store and notebook-based work experiences.
Official announcementNo public date
Next unified version
Microsoft ships Copilot continuously and has not announced one numbered successor with a fixed date.
Primary sources
Provider announcements, help documentation and system information.
- 1AI-powered Microsoft Bing and Edge
Microsoft · Feb 7, 2023
- 2Announcing Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft · Sep 21, 2023
- 3Your AI Companion
Microsoft · Apr 4, 2025
Last editorial verification: 2026-08-24. Prices, access limits, preview status and model routing can change after this date.