MC1124564 – (Updated) Microsoft Outlook: Copilot chat now available to summarize emails for more users

Product:

Copilot, Copilot Chat, eDiscovery, Entra, Exchange, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Outlook, Purview, Purview Communication Compliance, Purview Data Loss Prevention, Windows

Platform:

Android, iOS, Mac, Online, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Rolling out

Change type:

Admin impact, New feature, Updated message, User impact

Links:

498320

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft Outlook will roll out a Copilot chat feature to summarize email threads with one click, available to users with Copilot chat pinned, even without a Copilot license. The rollout starts late August 2025, is on by default, manageable by admins, and includes compliance and audit considerations.

Details:
Updated December 12, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
We're introducing a new way to quickly summarize email threads in Outlook using Copilot chat. With a single click, users can generate a summary of the current email conversation directly from the reading pane. This feature enhances productivity by helping users quickly understand long or complex threads.
This capability will be available to users with Copilot chat enabled-even if they don't have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license-provided they have pinned Copilot chat to the navigation bar. It will be available in both Classic and New Outlook for Windows.
When this will happen
Targeted Release (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in late August 2025 (previously early August) and expect to complete by mid-September 2025 (previously mid-August).
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in mid-September 2025 (previously mid-August) and expect to complete by end of January 2026 (previously mid-November 2025).

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

Created:
2025-07-30

updated:
2025-12-18

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**

User Experience with Email Summarization
Users may experience confusion or frustration if the summarization feature generates inaccurate or misleading summaries, leading to miscommunication or missed information.
   - roles: End Users, Customer Support
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/pin-copilot-chat-navbar, https://support.microsoft.com/office/summarize-an-email-thread-with-copilot-in-outlook-a79873f2-396b-46dc-b852-7fe5947ab640

Compliance and Data Management
The introduction of AI-generated summaries may lead to compliance issues if users save or share summaries without understanding the implications, potentially violating data retention policies.
   - roles: Compliance Officers, IT Administrators
   - references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/privacy-and-protections, https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/admin/activity-reports/microsoft-365-copilot-usage?view=o365-worldwide

Configutation Options**

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Data Protection**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft Outlook is introducing a new feature that allows users to quickly summarize email threads using a tool called Copilot chat. Think of this feature like having a personal assistant who can read through a long email conversation and give you a quick summary of what’s important. This can be particularly helpful if you receive emails with multiple replies and need to catch up quickly without reading every single message.

This feature will be available to users who have Copilot chat enabled, even if they don't have a specific Microsoft 365 Copilot license. It will work in both the Classic and New versions of Outlook for Windows. The rollout for this feature is planned to start in late August 2025 and should be available to everyone by the end of January 2026.

The way it works is simple: if you have Copilot chat pinned to your Outlook navigation bar, you’ll see a new "Summarize" button in your email reading pane. Clicking this button will generate a summary of the email thread, making it easier to understand the main points without going through each email.

For those managing IT or compliance, it’s important to note that this feature is enabled by default but can be managed through admin settings. Admins can control who has access to this feature using policy settings and group memberships. Also, while the summaries are generated using existing email content, they are not stored permanently unless a user decides to save them. This means the original emails remain unchanged, and the summaries are temporary unless explicitly saved.

In terms of compliance, if summaries are saved or shared, they might be subject to audit logging, so it’s a good idea for admins to review existing data policies to ensure they align with this new feature.

Overall, this feature aims to make email management more efficient by providing quick insights into lengthy conversations, much like having a quick recap at the beginning of a meeting to bring everyone up to speed.