Microsoft 365 Personal and Family Now Includes Copilot
Microsoft 365: Enhancements and New Features for Subscribers
Introduction to Microsoft 365
Launched in 2013, Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office 365) has made continuous strides in improving its services for users. Subscribers have seen an array of new applications, features, and benefits designed to enhance productivity and security. Notable additions include Microsoft Defender for advanced security, as well as creative tools like Microsoft Clipchamp, alongside frequent updates to popular applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook.
Introducing Copilot and Designer
Bringing AI to Everyday Tasks
Microsoft is expanding its offerings with the introduction of Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Designer, now available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers globally. These tools leverage advanced AI technology to elevate personal productivity. Importantly, these updates apply only to consumer subscription plans.
The Journey of Copilot
Expanding Accessibility
Microsoft’s vision for Copilot is to make it accessible to a broader audience at an affordable price. With this initiative, they have been listening to user feedback and making necessary adaptations. Starting in January 2024, Microsoft commenced the rollout of Copilot Pro to early adopters. The feedback showed that access to Copilot drives many users to subscribe.
By October 2024, Microsoft expanded pilot initiatives across select markets, making Copilot features available to a majority of its 84 million consumer subscribers in productivity applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. This step enables users to harness an AI assistant that enhances their familiar productivity tools.
Benefits of Using Copilot
Enhancing Your Workflow
The integration of Copilot across various Microsoft 365 applications aims to empower users by simplifying their tasks. Here are five practical scenarios where Copilot can be particularly useful:
Meal Preparation: Use Copilot in Word to input dietary preferences, and it will generate a well-formatted recipe tailored to your needs.
Budgeting: In Excel, request Copilot to analyze your budget spreadsheet, providing insights and suggestions that can help you prepare for the new year.
Creating Presentations: With PowerPoint, share highlights from your vacation, and Copilot can generate a coherent slideshow, complete with designs and slide layouts, ready for your personal photos.
Managing Emails: If you’re overwhelmed with post-holiday emails, let Copilot in Outlook summarize lengthy threads for quick comprehension and response.
- Task Organization: Input your to-do list ideas into OneNote, and Copilot can prioritize and categorize them into a structured task list.
Microsoft Designer: A New Creative App
Innovating Image Creation and Editing
Microsoft is also enhancing image creation through Microsoft Designer, now available to Personal and Family subscribers. This app provides advanced editing tools beyond the capabilities of free users, making it possible to create stunning visuals easily. Users can access Designer through Word and PowerPoint, as well as via its standalone app online and for mobile devices.
Try These Features:
Photo Editing: If a family snapshot includes some unwanted elements, simply upload it to Designer. The AI will help you select and erase these distractions seamlessly.
- Recipe Visualization: When documenting recipes, describe the dish, and Copilot will use Designer to generate a stunning image to accompany the text.
Monthly AI Credits and Subscription Options
Utilizing AI Effectively
Subscribers of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family will receive a monthly quota of AI credits, applicable for Copilot features across key applications. These credits enable usage for AI image generation and editing, applicable on devices running Windows.
For families sharing a subscription, note that Copilot benefits are exclusively available to the subscription owner. Frequent users seeking more extensive usage can opt for Copilot Pro.
Empowering Control Over AI Integration
Microsoft understands the varying needs of customers, including the desire to manage AI support. Settings in applications like Word and Excel will allow users to enable or disable Copilot based on their preference.
Pricing and Subscription Choices
Adjustments to Subscription Plans
To support ongoing innovations, Microsoft has announced a modest price increase for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, effective at the next renewal for existing subscribers. New subscribers can explore various plans, including options without AI features to meet different preferences and budgets.
Commitment to Privacy
Lastly, Microsoft assures users of its commitment to privacy, particularly with AI functionalities. The company maintains transparency about how they train AI models and does not use user-generated prompts or document content for model training, safeguarding user privacy effectively.
Getting Started with Microsoft 365
Current subscribers will automatically gain access to Copilot after updating their apps to the latest version. New users can easily sign up for Microsoft 365 via Microsoft’s official site or their preferred retailer, stepping into a realm of enhanced productivity and creativity.
