Microsoft is rolling out a free Copilot Chat sidebar to its Microsoft 365 business apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, starting today, providing all Microsoft 365 business users with access to secure, web-grounded AI assistance.
The new Copilot Chat is content-aware, adapting its responses to the specific file open in the app. It enables tasks such as drafting documents, analyzing spreadsheets, rewriting content, generating summaries, and creating PowerPoint slides. “Copilot Chat is secure AI chat grounded in the web—and now, it’s available in the Microsoft 365 apps,” said Seth Patton, General Manager of Microsoft 365 Copilot product marketing. “It’s content aware, meaning it quickly understands what you’re working on, tailoring answers to the file you have open. And it’s included at no additional cost for Microsoft 365 users.”
While the free version offers these core functionalities, the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license, priced at $30 per user per month, provides deeper integration across Office apps. It extends beyond single documents to reason over entire work data sets, with no limitations on scope. Subscribers also gain priority access to advanced features, including file uploads, image generation, integration with GPT-5, faster response times, and reliable availability even during peak usage periods. “Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license get priority access to features like file upload and image generation, along with the latest technology like GPT-5, including faster response times and more consistent availability—even during peak usage periods,” Patton added.
This business rollout follows Microsoft’s earlier integration of AI-powered Copilot features into consumer Microsoft 365 plans earlier this year, which came alongside subscription price increases. For business users, however, no price adjustments are being made with the addition of Copilot Chat. Looking ahead, Microsoft plans to bundle its sales, service, and finance Copilots into the Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription in October, potentially reducing costs for businesses heavily reliant on these AI tools.
The enhancements aim to boost productivity by embedding AI directly into everyday workflows, making advanced assistance more accessible while reserving premium capabilities for licensed users.
