499656 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): [Copilot Chat] Email attachment summarization (Classic Attachments)

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps, Outlook, Teams

Platform:

Android, Developer, iOS, Linux, Mac, Teams And Surface Devices, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

Now users will be able to reason over attached content along with the body of the email in Copilot Chat. Supported file types are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Pdf, Text, Json and Xml attached to the email (Classic Attachments).

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-08-01

updated:
2025-09-09

Docu to Check

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Direct effects for Operations**

Email Attachment Summarization
Users may experience confusion or misinterpretation of summarized content if the Copilot Chat does not accurately process the attached files, leading to potential miscommunication in collaborative tasks.
   - roles: End Users, Project Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-outlook-and-teams/, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-developer-blog/announcing-microsoft-copilot-in-microsoft-365/ba-p/3856780

Integration with Existing Workflows
The introduction of summarization features may disrupt existing workflows if users are not adequately trained, leading to decreased productivity and frustration when adapting to new tools.
   - roles: IT Support, End Users
   - references: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/09/30/how-microsoft-copilot-is-transforming-the-way-we-work/?sh=5c1c1e4e1b3e, https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-copilot-in-outlook-and-teams-what-you-need-to-know/

Configutation Options**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you receive a long email with several attachments, such as Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or PDFs. Traditionally, you would need to open each attachment individually, read through them, and then try to piece together the information to understand the email's full context. This process can be time-consuming and cumbersome, much like trying to assemble a puzzle without seeing the picture on the box.

Microsoft Copilot's new feature is like having a personal assistant who quickly skims through all those attachments for you and gives you a concise summary. It's as if you had someone who could read through a stack of papers and then tell you the key points without you having to go through each page yourself. This can save time and help you focus on the most important information.

This feature works with various file types, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDFs, and more, making it versatile across different kinds of documents you might encounter in your emails. It's available on multiple platforms, so whether you're using a desktop, a mobile device, or even accessing your emails through a web browser, you can benefit from this capability.

Think of it as having a smart filter that sifts through the noise and delivers the essence of the content directly to you, making your email management more efficient and less overwhelming.