New Models Available for M365 Copilot

In late April 2026, there were several model updates become available to M365 Copilot.

Anthropic Claude Opus 4.7

User are now able to select Anthropic’ s latest Claude Opus 4.7 in Copilot Cowork, Copilot Studio, and Copilot in Excel.  Opus 4.7 is designed to faster, more precise and handles complex, multi-step work with rigor.

GPT 5.5 Thinking

GPT 5.5 will be available for Microsoft 365 Copilot in Copilot Chat, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. With Work IQ, GPT 5.5 will deliver more focused, relevant, and complete outputs for analysis, creation, and complex work.

ChatGPT Images 2.0

ChatGPT Images 2.0 is rolling out to Copilot in PowerPoint and coming soon to Copilot Chat.

References:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/available-today-gpt-5-5-thinking-and-chatgpt-images-2-0-in-microsoft-365-copilot/4514243

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/available-today-anthropic-claude-opus-4-7-in-microsoft-365-copilot/4511666

M365 E7 is GA

As of May 1, 2026, the new Microsoft 365 E7 with Agent 365 is now Generally Available (GA).  As a reminder, M365 E7 is made up of the following:

• M365 E5: enterprise grade productivity, identity, and security services.
• M365 Copilot: AI integrated productivity capabilities.
• Microsoft Entra Suite: Identity and network access controls that secure employee use of all apps and AI
• Microsoft Agent 365: Control plan for governing, observing, and securing AI agents at scale.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft_365blog/microsoft-365-e7-and-agent-365-are-now-generally-available/4516295

New M365 Copilot Critique and Council features

M365 Copilot Researcher agent is adding new capabilities for deep, complex research. There are two new features: Critique and Council.

Critique is a multi-model research workflow that lets you use different models including to research.  This allows you to use both Anthropic and OpenAI to generate and improve an answer.  For instance, one model plans the work, retrieves information, and drafts the response; a second model reviews and refines the draft to produce the final output. Then the second model focuses on review and refinement, acting as an expert reviewer of the final research response. 

Council is designed for side-by-side model comparisons. Council is different approach and is designed for side-by-side comparison across multiple models.  In this case, Councill will run both Anthropic and OpenAI in parallel and will present a report shown at the end as a comparison between both models.  Once this is completed, a dedicated judge model evaluates both reports and then uses a judge model to synthesize the key findings.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-multi-model-intelligence-in-researcher/4506011

New M365 Copilot DLP Capabilities

Microsoft 365 Copilot now includes new data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities customers should be aware of. Until now, I have typically recommended using SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) to reduce oversharing and Sensitivity Labels to prevent Copilot from processing sensitive documents even when users have access. There are some new M365 Copilot DLP capabilities that customers should know about.  Today, there are some really good things customers can figure with M365 Copilot to protect against data loss.  Up to now, I have usually talked with customers about implementing SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM) to restrict oversharing of data plus I have recommended implementing Sensitivity Label policies to restrict sensitive documents from being processed by M365 Copilot (even if the user has legitimate access to the data).

A new preview feature lets you apply DLP policies to Copilot prompts themselves, blocking prompts that contain configured sensitive information types. This real-There is a new feature that is in preview that enables you to create DLP policy to protect sensitive information types from even being submitted in M365 Copilot Prompts.  This real time control helps reduce data leakage and oversharing. You can also   Users would not be allowed to even allow prompts to continue if there is sensitive information present.  You can also create policy that would allow users to work with sensitive content but restrict where the prompt can be sent for example, limiting it to internal processing only.

References:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/ai-m365-copilot 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/dlp-microsoft365-copilot-location-learn-about

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?searchterms=515945

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=548671

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot--march-2026/4506322

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/latest-enhancements-for-copilot-security-management-and-analytics/4508476

New M365 E7 Notes

By now, many of you have heard about the major announcements about the new M365 E7 offering.  There are a couple of my notes around all the new capabilities.

Work IQ

• A key announcement is Work IQ, an intelligence layer that helps M365 Copilot understand your working habits, collaborators, and shared content. Work IQ personalizes Copilot to fit your needs.
• Work IQ consists of three interconnected layers: data, context, and skills/tools.
• Its purpose is to enhance Copilot by working with any foundational model chosen by users, such as Open AI or Anthropic.
• Work IQ's foundation lies in secure access to both your structured and unstructured data through the M365 graph, along with any business data reached via Copilot Connectors outside of M365.
• The Context component grounds Copilot in M365 data, providing baseline understanding of your activities. It considers factors like your skills, ongoing projects, collaboration frequency, your network, critical tasks, and more. The Memory feature allows you to mark specific data for recall, while implicit memory uses your history to generate answers. Work IQ also assesses your activity throughout M365 to build context and maintains a business perspective on your role.
• Work IQ offers agentic skills, which are specialized instructions for tasks—such as scheduling meetings or finding notes—alongside tools that Copilot uses to carry out these tasks.
• Integrated across all Copilot applications and experiences, Work IQ enables Copilot to deliver contextual information tailored to your prompts. You can ask about your manager, projects, processes, and more, and receive responses relevant to your situation.

Copilot Cowork

• Anthropic (Claude Cowork) has now been integrated into M365 Copilot. Copilot Cowork enables advanced, long-running, multi-step workflows that extend beyond simple prompts and responses. Coupled with Work IQ, users can now delegate substantial tasks to Copilot, allowing for oversight of ongoing work.
• Cowork is capable of decomposing complex requests into actionable steps, reasoning across multiple tools and files, and completing assignments on behalf of the user.
• Cowork’s operations are transparent and observable; users can monitor progress, provide guidance, halt, or modify tasks as necessary throughout the workflow.

Agents in Chat

• Chat in Copilot serves as a starting point, enabling users to seamlessly create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more based on their interactions. There's no need for users to copy and paste or switch between different tools, ensuring a streamlined workflow and helping them accomplish tasks efficiently.
• Copilot simplifies building agents for everyday tasks using Agent Builder, while Microsoft Copilot Studio supports the development of more advanced business processes.

Multi-model Intelligence

• As noted previously, the launch of Wave 3 demonstrates ongoing commitment to Microsoft's vision of providing users with flexibility rather than limiting them to a single model. Claude is currently unavailable as a primary chat option for users, while OpenAI models remain accessible.

Agent 365

• A key feature introduced with M365 E7 is the Agent 365 solution.
• Customers should expect that agents will become widespread on all platforms, not just within Microsoft environments.
• Agent 365 serves as a centralized control plane for managing enterprise-level agents, allowing organizations to monitor, secure, and govern every agent throughout their operation.
• In essence, managing agents resembles managing users, utilizing familiar tools and strategies already in use by organizations today.

Why Microsoft Included Entra Suite in Microsoft 365 E7

• To enable AI agents to operate under Zero Trust: As AI moves from assistance to action, Microsoft needed a way to apply identity, access controls, and policy enforcement not just to users, but also to AI agents operating across the environment.
• To extend identity governance beyond humans to non‑human actors: Entra Suite allows organizations to apply lifecycle management, least‑privilege access, and conditional access to AI agents the same way they do for employees, apps, and services.
• To make large‑scale AI adoption auditable and defensible: Agent actions can be logged, monitored, and governed through Entra, Defender, and Purview—supporting compliance, investigations, and regulated industry requirements.
• To prevent “shadow AI” as agents proliferate across the business: Entra Suite provides centralized identity and access governance so agents created by different teams don’t operate outside security and policy boundaries.
• To complement Agent 365 with identity‑level enforcement: Agent 365 provides visibility and control over agents, while Entra Suite provides the identity foundation that determines who or what an agent is and what it is allowed to access.
• To move customers from AI experimentation to enterprise execution: Microsoft included Entra Suite to remove the need for additional identity add‑ons and give customers a single, trusted platform to deploy AI safely at scale.
• To align E7 with the “agentic enterprise” strategy: E7 is designed for a future where humans and AI agents work side‑by‑side; Entra Suite is what makes that model secure, governable, and enterprise‑ready.

What comes in E7?

• Think of the new E7 suite as the M365 AI suite.
• First, it brings in M365 Copilot Add-on which previously was an add-on SKU to either E3 or E5.
• Second, it brings in Agent 365 to assist organizations with their enterprise management of agents.
• Third, the Entra Suite add-on is part of the E7 suite.  Entra ID Suite was included in E7 primarily to make large‑scale, governed AI agents viable and defensible in enterprise.

References:

https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2026/03/09/introducing-the-first-frontier-suite-built-on-intelligence-trust/

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/12/04/advancing-microsoft-365-new-capabilities-and-pricing-update/

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/a-closer-look-at-work-iq/4499789

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2026/03/09/powering-frontier-transformation-with-copilot-and-agents/

M365 Copilot What's New for Jan and Feb 2026

I reviewed the recent updates for both January and February 2026. Below are several noteworthy developments that I observed.

January 2026 >> https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot--january-2026/4488916 

• Agent mode is now available in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing users to edit and refine documents collaboratively with active assistance based on user prompts.
• The introduction of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents streamlines file creation, enabling users to generate new documents with a single prompt through Copilot Chat.
• Voice chats in the Microsoft 365 Copilot application have been enhanced to reference user memory, delivering more personalized results.
• Outlook's interactive voice experience summarizes unread emails and provides hands-free actions such as drafting, deleting, archiving, pinning, and flagging messages.
• Implicit grounding for emails and text allows Copilot Chat to automatically incorporate open emails as contextual sources for prompts. When text within an email is highlighted, Copilot dynamically updates its context to focus solely on the selected text.
• Users are now able to perform common email triage actions in Outlook and the M365 Copilot App using natural language commands. This includes marking messages as read or unread, pinning, flagging, and archiving (e.g., "Flag all unread emails from my manager").
• Automatic replies can now be set up using natural language, enabling users to toggle replies on or off, specify date ranges, and draft response templates efficiently.
• Copilot Excel now supports locally stored workbooks that are not saved on the M365 platform.
• In PowerPoint's view-only mode, users can leverage Copilot to review presentations and pose questions about the content.
• Microsoft Purview integration within the M365 Admin Center enhances security management for M365 Copilot, offering features including oversharing risk assessment, DLP for Copilot policy, and a Copilot Overview screen with suggested administrative actions.
• A new overview and readiness report will soon be available in the M365 Admin Center. The redesigned Copilot overview page offers a centralized, comprehensive, and contextual dashboard for monitoring Copilot across the tenant.

February 2026 >> https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot--february-2026/4496489 

• In Copilot Chat, users can pick specific text from Copilot responses and then ask focused follow-up questions about that selection.
• Users have the option to base their Copilot prompts on SharePoint lists or sites by typing a slash “/” followed by the desired location's name.
• In Outlook, users can highlight message text and start a grounded discussion based on what they've highlighted.
• The Project Manager Agent is a new tool that helps users plan, organize, and manage projects with AI-assisted tracking. It will be available for public preview in March.
• Copilot Chat now works alongside Copilot Search, making it possible for users to review previous search results and interact with Copilot simultaneously.
• Teams meeting recaps will soon feature visual highlights with summaries; for example, key recap points may include an image of a slide or a screenshot from a screenshare as part of the notes.
• Customizable Teams meeting recap templates are being introduced, enabling users to personalize AI-generated notes according to their team's workflow. Users specify their preferences, and Copilot follows those instructions.
• New features in Copilot for Outlook allow it to suggest meeting times, and if no suitable options are found, Copilot expands its search and explains the recommendations.
• In Outlook, Copilot can schedule meetings directly from an email thread—simply select “Schedule with Copilot” and the process is handled automatically.
• OneDrive agents allow users to create an agent capable of understanding an entire document set and responding with answers based on that collective content.
• In Copilot Chat, Agent Recommendations offer proactive suggestions to users; for instance, if a specialized agent is available, it will be suggested.
• AI agents can collaborate to complete complex tasks by invoking one another as tools, allowing specialized agents to benefit from each other's expertise.
• The new Power User Report will be added to the Copilot Adoption dashboard, helping you understand how power users, regular users, and non-users are engaging with Copilot.

Copilot in Outlook Help to Manage Meeting Conflicts

This upcoming feature is set to enhance productivity. With M365 Copilot, users can leverage its ability to review Outlook calendar events and manage meeting conflicts efficiently. For example, if multiple recurring meetings are scheduled and it becomes necessary to prioritize a one-on-one session, Copilot can reschedule the individual meeting accordingly. To enable this functionality, simply select “If conflicts arise, let Copilot reschedule this event” in the Outlook meeting invitation and specify which days and times are suitable for rescheduling should a conflict occur.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/copilot-can-reschedule-conflicting-events-in-outlook/4471514

New M365 Copilot Control Panel Capabilities

Microsoft Ignite introduced several new management features for the Copilot Control System. This tool helps administrators oversee M365 Copilot. Thanks to extensive feedback, numerous enhancements have been made.  I highly recommend reviewing this longer blog posting: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/new-capabilities-for-ai-admins-from-ignite-2025/4478906

A couple of quick highlights that caught my eye:

• New dedicated home page for Copilot admins
• New oversight section that focus on 1) security / governance, 2) management controls, 3) measuring adoption
• New Copilot readiness page providing recommendations actions
• Improved organizational messages
• Action Segments allows you to target users based on their activity with additional tips on how to use Copilot
• Email Delivery Channel
• New Agent 365 control plane to manage all agents created in Microsoft platforms (including open-source and third-party).  This includes an agent registry page, agent ownership reassignment, agent pinning management, agent enablement controls, and agent policies to manage the life-cycle of agents

 

 

M365 Copilot PowerPoint Explain This feature

M365 Copilot for PowerPoint now offers a useful new feature called Explainer. With this tool, you can highlight specific content on your slides and have M365 Copilot explain it to you. This is especially helpful if your slides include acronyms, complex information, or dense material lacking clear explanations. Copilot analyzes what you've selected and provides a relevant answer.

 

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/get-clarity-on-complex-presentations-with-explainer-in-powerpoint/4479559

M365 Copilot Enterprise Commitments Extended to Anthropic Models

Back in September 2025, Microsoft announces that Anthropic models would be available to both M365 Copilot and Copilot Studio.  It was initially configured to be off by default and customers had to turn it on.

This has now changed.  Anthropic models are now covered under the Microsoft enterprise grade compliance and data handling commitments.  Thus, Anthropic models are now available by default to customers moving forward.  Customers still can disable access to Anthropic models should they choose to.  Please review the following references.

References:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/enterprise-data-protection

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-subprocessor

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/09/24/expanding-model-choice-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

M365 Copilot and OpenAI GPT-5.2 Now Available

OpenAI GPT-5.2 is now available to both M365 Copilot and Copilot Studio.  GPT-5.2 provides the best model for complex problem and strategic insights which is aligned with supporting business productivity users.  There are two options.  

1. Quick Response focuses on fast, concise answers for simple or time-sensitive questions.  The focus is on speed versus exhaustive reasoning.
2. Think Deeper focuses on comprehensive, analytical responses for complex or strategic queries.  This includes multi-step reasoning and explore context, implications and options.

Reference: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/12/11/available-today-gpt-5-2-in-microsoft-365-copilot/ 

Workforce Transformation Agents

Several innovative agents have been introduced with M365 Copilot, each aimed at supporting workforce transformation.

The new People Agent is designed to assist users in identifying the most suitable individuals within an organization. As organizations often evolve and grow larger over time, traditional organizational charts may not always indicate where subject matter experts reside. The People Agent locates individuals with relevant expertise and provides recommendations on whom to consult.

The Upskilling Agent is dedicated to facilitating continuous learning. Acquiring new skills can be challenging, and this agent addresses that by offering users customized learning plans and suggestions tailored to their roles and existing competencies.

Finally, the Workforce Planning Agent aids managers and leaders in efficiently analysing resource allocation, identifying potential gaps, and making recommendations for organizational restructuring.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-new-microsoft-365-copilot-agents-to-drive-workforce-transformation/4470689

Project Opal

Project Opal is an innovative AI Agent integrated within M365 Copilot. Its primary function is to execute repetitive and manual tasks based on user guidance and instructions. Project Opal efficiently gathers information and acts upon it, facilitating the completion of workflows and processes by focusing on task execution. Common use cases include automating evidence collection, streamlining group membership access, submitting timesheets and HR leave requests, and managing user onboarding checklists.

Project Opal workflows leverage the M365 Copilot Computer Use feature, which initiates a W365 session to perform actions on behalf of the user. Users are able to observe Project Opal as it carries out tasks, modify interactions, and actively participate in the process when necessary.

This agent employs an advanced reasoning model to generate structured plans and sequentially accomplish assigned objectives. The Computer User capability enables Project Opal to efficiently complete tasks for human users while allowing real-time observation and participation.

Project Opal presents substantial opportunities for organizations seeking to automate routine activities that employees routinely manage. Tasks such as submitting monthly expense reports or compiling weekly status updates can be streamlined and automated through this solution.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-project-opal-a-new-way-to-get-task-based-work-done/4470999

M365 Copilot Office Agents

M365 Copilot continues to broaden its functionality, offering expanded support for content and document creation. The platform now features dedicated Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents within M365 Copilot. Users simply access the M365 Copilot Chat, initiate the desired agent, and request document creation. M365 Copilot will then gather any necessary additional information before generating the initial draft. Once the draft is ready, users can seamlessly open and further refine the document with ongoing assistance from M365 Copilot.

While there are other tools that offer similar capabilities, M365 Copilot provides several key advantages:

• First, it utilizes genuine Office applications to generate content, ensuring that files produced are of high quality and fully compatible with Office. This approach also mitigates security risks by preventing unsafe elements such as macros or external links from accessing your data.
• Second, all generated results are grounded in your organization’s enterprise data, incorporating comprehensive permission checks throughout the process. This feature is particularly significant, as internal organizational data often holds greater value than publicly available information.
• Third, all documents created are securely stored in OneDrive, providing a compliant and protected environment for your organizational data.
• Fourth, this solution employs multi-step AI reasoning, emulating the workflow of a human consultant—planning, researching, drafting, and reviewing. This structured methodology enhances the accuracy of the results delivered.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-word-excel-and-powerpoint-agents-in-microsoft-365-copilot/4470604

M365 Copilot Voice

In early November, Microsoft introduced a new voice capability within M365 Copilot. This feature is straightforward to use and has proven effective during brainstorming sessions. Initially launched for the M365 Copilot mobile application, it is now also available in core M365 apps such as Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.

Within the M365 Copilot App, users simply press the voice button to initiate an interactive conversation with Copilot. The system can clarify input, refine content, answer questions, and offer next step suggestions. Users may voice their thoughts or inquiries and engage in a natural conversational exchange. Feedback can be provided at any moment, prompting Copilot to adjust its responses accordingly.

In applications like Word or PowerPoint, users can discuss lengthy documents verbally with Copilot. In Outlook, Copilot can provide summaries of daily messages and assist in drafting responses.

Microsoft has noted that users tend to interact with Copilot twice as much using voice compared to text input. To begin, simply select the “Start a new voice chat" option.

References:

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-voice-in-microsoft-365-copilot-a-more-productive-way-to-work-on-the-/4466034

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/voice-turns-microsoft-365-copilot-into-your-thought-partner-/4469040

Create Alt Text with M365 Copilot

Including detailed Alt Text in your Word and PowerPoint files greatly enhances accessibility for all users. Now, with the help of M365 Copilot, you can provide even better descriptions. Simply open your document and use the check accessibility feature. When Alt Text is missing, just click the button to have it created automatically. M365 Copilot will then generate a thoughtful description for your chart or image.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/richer-alt-text-in-word-and-powerpoint-powered-by-generative-ai/4466593

Microsoft Word Audio Summary with M365 Copilot

I found this new feature really fascinating. With M365 Copilot and Microsoft Word, you can now generate audio summaries of documents—almost like turning them into mini podcasts. This means I no longer have to read through lengthy documents right away; instead, I can listen to a summary while on the move. If you wish, you can even save these recordings to your OneDrive. It's a fantastic tool, especially for someone like me who reads slowly.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/listen-to-an-audio-overview-of-a-document-with-microsoft-365-copilot-in-word/4439362

New Teams Channel Agent

In September 2025, Microsoft Teams introduced a new M365 Copilot feature known as Channel Agent. The Channel Agent operates within a Teams channel, utilizing conversation history, documents, and other resources to assist users. Often, Teams channels are created to support specific initiatives or projects. Channel Agent is capable of generating structured reports, responding to queries, capturing and tracking tasks, and creating team notes by leveraging the information available within the channel.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/introducing-channel-agent-in-teams/4455451

Add M365 Copilot to a Teams Group Chat

A new feature is being introduced to M365 Copilot and Microsoft Teams. Within group chats, users can now add Copilot as an additional participant. Once Copilot is included in the conversation, it can be instructed to complete various tasks, such as:

• Summarizing or answering questions from the chat.
• Compiling information from the discussion and creating a Word document.
• Bringing in supplementary information from the Web to enhance the conversation.

This functionality allows users to interact directly with Copilot within the Teams Group chat environment, streamlining workflows without the need to switch between applications.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/a-new-way-to-collaborate-with-copilot-in-teams-chats/4463655

New Microsoft Teams M365 Copilot Facilitator Agent

Microsoft Teams has introduced a new Facilitator Agent designed to enhance meeting focus and productivity. The Facilitator offers several key features:

• Tracks discussion topics and timing using visual timeline markers to help ensure conversations remain on schedule.
• Enables collaborative, real-time note-taking.
• Provides answers to questions by leveraging information from the meeting and online sources.
• Monitors tasks and assignments throughout the meeting.
• Instantly drafts documents in Word or Loop to support meeting content.
• Delivers improved experiences for chat, notes, and meeting timers when using Teams Room.
• Records ad-hoc discussions to ensure no valuable insights are overlooked.

I have observed the Facilitator Agent in meetings and found the topic and time tracker, integrated with the meeting agenda, particularly effective in helping participants address each subject promptly.

Please note that access to these functionalities requires an M365 Copilot license.

Reference: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/keep-meetings-focused-and-productive-with-facilitator-in-teams/4456029