499657 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): [Copilot Chat] Email attachment summarization (Modern Attachments)

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Apps, Outlook, Teams

Platform:

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

Status:

Rolling out

Change type:

Links:

Details:

Users will be able to reason over additional attachment content, along with the email body, in Copilot Chat. Support will be extended to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Pdf, Text, Json and Xml files mentioned in the email as links (Modern Attachments).

Change Category:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Scope:
XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2025-08-01

updated:
2025-09-30

Docu to Check

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

MS workload name

XXXXXXX ... free basic plan only

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 summarization feature is not properly trained or tested, leading to potential miscommunication in collaborative environments.
   - roles: End Users, Team Leaders
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/16/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-copilot-blog/what-is-microsoft-365-copilot/ba-p/3741230

Integration with Modern Attachments
If the integration with various file types (Word, Excel, etc.) is not seamless, users may face difficulties accessing or utilizing attachments, resulting in decreased productivity and frustration.
   - roles: End Users, IT Support
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/03/16/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot/, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-365-copilot-blog/what-is-microsoft-365-copilot/ba-p/3741230

Configutation Options**

XXXXXXX ... paid membership only

explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you have a personal assistant who helps you manage your emails. This assistant not only reads the emails for you but also goes through any documents attached to those emails. Let's say you receive an email with a lengthy report attached. Instead of reading the entire report, your assistant quickly summarizes the key points for you, saving you time and effort. This is similar to what Microsoft Copilot is doing with its new feature in Microsoft 365.

Microsoft Copilot is like that assistant. It can now understand and summarize the content of attachments in emails, just like it does with the email body itself. This means if you receive an email with a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation, or even a PDF, Copilot can provide you with a concise summary of what's inside those files. It's as if Copilot is skimming through the documents and giving you the highlights, so you don't have to go through each page yourself.

Think of it like having a friend who is great at speed-reading and can give you the gist of a book in a few sentences. Whether you're using Outlook on your desktop, your phone, or even on the web, Copilot can help you quickly understand the important parts of the attachments without needing to open and read them in full. This feature is especially useful for busy professionals who receive numerous emails with attachments every day, as it allows them to prioritize their time and focus on what's most important.