MC1112450 – Microsoft 365 Copilot | Viva Engage discussion posts added to grounding sources (archived)

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Viva, Microsoft Viva Engage

Platform:

Android, iOS, Online, Web, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

New feature, User impact

Links:

408167

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot now includes Viva Engage discussion posts from public communities and Storylines as grounding sources, enhancing contextually relevant responses. This feature, rolling out from June to August 2025, requires no admin action and does not include private content. Review Viva Engage configurations and notify relevant parties.

Details:
[Introduction]
Microsoft 365 Copilot is expanding its grounding sources to include discussion posts from Viva Engage public communities and Storylines. This enhancement helps Copilot deliver more contextually relevant responses by drawing from a broader range of organizational conversations.
This message is associated with Roadmap ID 408167.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide): We began rolling out in late June 2025 and expect to complete by mid-August 2025.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability, Preview

Created:
2025-07-10

updated:
2025-07-10

Public Preview Start Date

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Task Type

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Docu to Check

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MS How does it affect me

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MS Preperations

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MS Urgency

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MS workload name

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linked item details

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Data Processing Changes
Copilot will now process discussion posts from public Viva Engage communities, potentially leading to unexpected responses based on user-generated content.
   - roles: Data Analysts, Content Managers
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/viva/engage/manage-engage-licenses-microsoft-365, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=408167

AI Response Relevance
The expansion of grounding sources may lead to less relevant or off-topic responses if the public discussions are not aligned with user queries.
   - roles: Customer Support Agents, End Users
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/viva/engage/manage-engage-licenses-microsoft-365, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=408167

User Experience Changes
Users may experience a shift in the type and depth of information provided by Copilot, which could lead to confusion or misinterpretation of responses.
   - roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/viva/engage/manage-engage-licenses-microsoft-365, https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=408167

Configutation Options**

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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IT Security**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft 365 Copilot is like a personal assistant that helps you find and understand information quickly. Imagine it as a librarian who not only knows where all the books are but also listens to the conversations happening in the library to give you the most relevant answers. Recently, this assistant has become even smarter by listening to discussions happening in public forums within your organization, specifically through a tool called Viva Engage.

Viva Engage is a platform where employees can share ideas and discuss topics openly, much like a company-wide social media. With the new update, Copilot can now use these public discussions as a source of information to provide more accurate and context-rich responses to your questions. Think of it as Copilot having access to the latest discussions in the office, helping it understand the context better and offer more insightful answers.

This change is happening automatically, so there's no need for any setup or adjustments from your side. It's like getting a software update on your phone that happens overnight without you having to do anything. However, it's important to note that Copilot will only use information from public discussions, ensuring that private conversations remain private.

In terms of compliance, this update means that Copilot will process more types of data to enhance its responses. It's similar to a chef using a wider variety of ingredients to create a more flavorful dish. While the way Copilot interacts with you remains the same, the quality and relevance of the information it provides may improve thanks to this broader range of data.

For those managing the tools, it might be a good idea to review how Viva Engage is set up in your organization to understand how this change might impact your team. You might also want to inform your colleagues about this update so they know how Copilot is evolving to better assist them.