433687 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): Discover, acquire, and manage agents through in-app store in Word and PowerPoint

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps

Platform:

Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

With Copilot extensibility, users can discover, acquire, and manage agents through the unified store. We are excited to introduce the Microsoft 365 unified store to Office documents, enabling users to discover, acquire, and manage agents directly within the in-app store for Word and PowerPoint, with Excel support coming soon.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2024-11-19

updated:
2025-09-27

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Experience Disruption
Users may face confusion and frustration due to the introduction of a new in-app store interface without prior training or communication, leading to decreased productivity.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support Staff
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/

Integration Issues
Existing workflows may be disrupted if the new agents do not integrate well with current applications, causing potential data loss or errors in documents.
   - roles: End Users, Project Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/

Increased Support Requests
The introduction of new features may lead to a spike in support requests as users encounter issues or require assistance with the new functionalities.
   - roles: IT Support Staff, Help Desk Operators
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft is introducing a new feature called Copilot extensibility within its Microsoft 365 suite, specifically for Word and PowerPoint, with plans to include Excel in the future. This feature allows users to discover, acquire, and manage agents directly from an in-app store within these applications.

Think of it like shopping for apps on your smartphone. Just as you might go to the App Store or Google Play to find and download apps that enhance your phone's functionality, the Microsoft 365 unified store works similarly. Within Word or PowerPoint, you can browse through a selection of agents—these are like mini-apps or add-ons that can help automate tasks, provide additional functionality, or integrate with other services you use.

Once you find an agent that suits your needs, you can acquire it directly from within the application, much like downloading an app to your phone. Managing these agents is also streamlined; you can update or remove them as needed, all without leaving the application you're working in. This integration aims to make it easier for users to enhance their productivity tools without the need to navigate away from their work environment.

The introduction of this feature reflects a shift towards making productivity software more customizable and user-friendly, allowing individuals to tailor their tools to better fit their specific workflows and needs.