Microsoft adds Copilot to Microsoft 365: new AI features for an additional fee

Microsoft is adding new artificial intelligence (AI) features to its Microsoft 365 service, which includes access to online versions of Microsoft Office applications. However, the company is raising prices by 33-42% for subscribers who want to use this feature.

Here's What We Know

Copilot is now available and is integrated into the Office apps that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Copilot is an AI tool that Microsoft is gradually integrating into various software products, including Windows 11.

Until now, Windows users could only access Copilot through the Copilot Pro subscription, which cost $20 per month. Now Copilot is available to all Microsoft 365 users, but for an additional fee.

There's a catch: adding Copilot to a Microsoft 365 subscription increases the price by 30-42%. For individual users, the price will increase from $6.99 to $9.99 per month (or from $69.99 to $99.99 per year). For family subscriptions, the price will increase from $9.99 to $12.99 per month (annual subscriptions will increase from $99.99 to $129.99).

Copilot is not the only AI-powered tool coming to Microsoft 365. The company will also add Microsoft Designer, an AI-powered image editor.

Copilot is already integrated into Windows 11, and most new laptops (such as the Surface Laptop 2024) have a dedicated Copilot button on the keyboard.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly being integrated into various consumer products and has received mixed reviews. Copilot, in particular, has received harsh criticism for poor response generation (including direct threats to users) and for being too aggressively implemented.

Source: Microsoft