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Microsoft is rolling out free Copilot Chat and agent features to all Microsoft 365 business users starting today. The update brings AI assistance directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote without requiring a separate Copilot license.
The new Copilot Chat sidebar can draft documents, summarize content, analyze spreadsheets, and even build slide decks. Unlike earlier bundles, this addition comes at no extra cost for Microsoft 365 business subscribers.
“Copilot Chat is secure AI chat grounded in the web and now available in Microsoft 365 apps,” said Seth Patton, general manager of Microsoft 365 Copilot product marketing.
He explained that the tool is content-aware, quickly adapting to whatever file a user has open.
Still, the free version has limits. The premium Microsoft 365 Copilot license, priced at $30 per user each month, offers deeper integration. It is not restricted to a single file and can reason across company-wide data.
Patton highlighted that licensed users also receive priority access to advanced features. These include file uploads, image generation, faster response times, and the latest GPT-5 models, even during peak hours.
Earlier this year, Microsoft extended Copilot features to consumer Microsoft 365 plans but raised subscription prices. This time, the company is not adjusting prices for business users despite adding Copilot Chat.
Microsoft will bundle its sales, service, and finance Copilots into the Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription in October. This move could lower costs for businesses relying on multiple AI-powered tools under one license.
