check before: 2026-01-01
Product:
Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 admin center, Microsoft 365 Apps, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Outlook, Windows
Platform:
Mac, Online, Web, World tenant
Status:
Change type:
Admin impact, Feature update, Updated message, User impact
Links:
Details:
Summary:
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is expanding: Outlook will analyze entire inboxes, calendars, and meetings; Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will assist content creation using web data and referenced files. Rollout began January 2026, completing by March, with no admin action required for most features.
Details:
Updated February 5, 2026: Agent Mode in Excel and Word are starting to roll out across web, Windows, and Mac and are expected to complete in the following weeks. Additionally, Anthropic has onboarded as a Microsoft subprocessor and we have updated the related information below.
Updated January 20, 2026: The change to Copilot Chat in Outlook to expand reasoning to include a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data is starting to roll out across web, new Outlook for Windows, Classic Outlook for Windows, Mac and mobile and is expected to complete in the following weeks. For more information on the data Copilot Chat in Outlook will be able to access, please see Organizational Data in our documentation. Users can learn more about this change from the Use Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps article. There is no update at this time regarding Agent Mode and the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents availability.
[Introduction]
We're introducing new capabilities for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) to help them better manage their day in Outlook and create and refine Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations. These updates include:
Copilot Chat in Outlook will expand from reasoning over a single email thread to reasoning over a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data.
Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint uses web data and referenced files to help users create and refine content in the apps.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents allow users to create high-quality documents, workbooks, and presentations in Copilot Chat using web data and referenced files.
Please find our Microsoft Ignite announcements here.
[When this will happen:]
We will begin rolling out early January 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026.
Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
Created:
2025-11-19
updated:
2026-02-06
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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summary for non-techies**
Microsoft is introducing new features for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, including Agent Mode for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, to enhance email, calendar, and document management, with a rollout from January to March 2026, and management options available through the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Direct effects for Operations**
Increased User Workload
Users may experience an overwhelming amount of information as Copilot Chat analyzes entire inboxes and calendars, leading to potential confusion and difficulty in managing tasks.
- roles: End Users, Project Managers
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-subprocessor, https://support.microsoft.com/topic/use-copilot-chat-in-microsoft-365-apps-676db5e8-9568-4bdb-bf0b-e207e29e056b
Data Privacy Concerns
The expansion of Copilot Chat to access more enterprise data may raise concerns about data privacy and compliance, especially if users are unaware of what data is being analyzed.
- roles: Compliance Officers, Data Protection Officers
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/privacy-and-protections#organizational-data, https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/manage#manage--chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365--app-and-in-outlook
User Training Requirements
Users may require additional training to effectively utilize the new features in Copilot Chat, which could lead to a temporary decrease in productivity if not provided.
- roles: End Users, Training Coordinators
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#microsoft-365--chat-eligibility, https://support.microsoft.com/topic/use-copilot-chat-in-microsoft-365-apps-676db5e8-9568-4bdb-bf0b-e207e29e056b
Integration Issues
Potential integration issues with existing workflows and tools may arise as new features are rolled out, leading to disruptions in user experience.
- roles: IT Support, End Users
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/manage#pinning-settings-for--chat, https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-models
Performance Degradation
The introduction of new features may lead to performance issues in Microsoft 365 applications, affecting user experience and productivity.
- roles: End Users, IT Support
- references: https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-subprocessor, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage--chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365--app-and-in-outlook
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**
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** AI generated content. This information must be reviewed before use.
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change history
| Date | Property | old | new |
| 2026-02-06 | MC Messages | Updated January 20, 2026: The change to Copilot Chat in Outlook to expand reasoning to include a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data is starting to roll out across web, new Outlook for Windows, Classic Outlook for Windows, Mac and mobile and is expected to complete in the following weeks. For more information on the data Copilot Chat in Outlook will be able to access, please see Organizational Data in our documentation. Users can learn more about this change from the Use Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps article. There is no update at this time regarding Agent Mode and the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents availability.
[Introduction] We're introducing new capabilities for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) to help them better manage their day in Outlook and create and refine Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations. These updates include: Copilot Chat in Outlook will expand from reasoning over a single email thread to reasoning over a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data. Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint uses web data and referenced files to help users create and refine content in the apps. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents allow users to create high-quality documents, workbooks, and presentations in Copilot Chat using web data and referenced files. Please find our Microsoft Ignite announcements here. [When this will happen:] We will begin rolling out early January 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026. | Updated February 5, 2026: Agent Mode in Excel and Word are starting to roll out across web, Windows, and Mac and are expected to complete in the following weeks. Additionally, Anthropic has onboarded as a Microsoft subprocessor and we have updated the related information below.
Updated January 20, 2026: The change to Copilot Chat in Outlook to expand reasoning to include a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data is starting to roll out across web, new Outlook for Windows, Classic Outlook for Windows, Mac and mobile and is expected to complete in the following weeks. For more information on the data Copilot Chat in Outlook will be able to access, please see Organizational Data in our documentation. Users can learn more about this change from the Use Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps article. There is no update at this time regarding Agent Mode and the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents availability. [Introduction] We're introducing new capabilities for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) to help them better manage their day in Outlook and create and refine Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations. These updates include: Copilot Chat in Outlook will expand from reasoning over a single email thread to reasoning over a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data. Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint uses web data and referenced files to help users create and refine content in the apps. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents allow users to create high-quality documents, workbooks, and presentations in Copilot Chat using web data and referenced files. Please find our Microsoft Ignite announcements here. [When this will happen:] We will begin rolling out early January 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026. |
| 2026-02-06 | MC Last Updated | 01/21/2026 00:45:53 | 2026-02-06T00:22:04Z |
| 2026-02-06 | MC prepare | No admin action is required for Copilot Chat in Outlook. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Outlook, you can use Integrated Apps in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Learn more here.
No admin action is required for Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can use the Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat setting. Learn more here. To provide access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents, you must connect to Anthropic's Claude model. Learn how to connect here. [Compliance considerations:] The following considerations are relevant to the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents. Data processing outside of Microsoft: Anthropic's Claude model is hosted outside Microsoft. Data processed by Claude is outside Microsoft-managed environments and audit controls. Microsoft agreements do not apply: Microsoft's Product Terms, Data Processing Addendum, data residency commitments, audit and compliance requirements, SLAs, and Customer Copyright Commitment do not apply when using Anthropic services. Third-party integration: Use of Anthropic services is governed by Anthropic's Commercial Terms of Service and Data Processing Addendum. https://aka.ms/ABSIgnite2025 https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/privacy-and-protections#organizational-data https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage--chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365--app-and-in-outlook https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#microsoft-365--chat-eligibility https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#pinning-settings-for--chat https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-models https://support.microsoft.com/topic/use-copilot-chat-in-microsoft-365-apps-676db5e8-9568-4bdb-bf0b-e207e29e056b | No admin action is required for Copilot Chat in Outlook. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Outlook, you can use Integrated Apps in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Learn more here.
No admin action is required for Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can use the Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat setting. Learn more here. To provide access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents, you must connect to Anthropic's Claude model. Learn how to connect here. [Compliance considerations:] The following considerations are relevant to the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents. Anthropic has onboarded as a Microsoft subprocessor: Learn more here. https://aka.ms/ABSIgnite2025 https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-subprocessor https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/privacy-and-protections#organizational-data https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage--chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365--app-and-in-outlook https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#microsoft-365--chat-eligibility https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#pinning-settings-for--chat https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-models https://support.microsoft.com/topic/use-copilot-chat-in-microsoft-365-apps-676db5e8-9568-4bdb-bf0b-e207e29e056b |
| 2026-02-06 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat updates include expanded Outlook reasoning over inbox, calendar, and enterprise data; Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint using web data and files; and new app-specific agents leveraging Anthropic’s Claude model. Rollout begins January 2026, completing by March, with no required admin action. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is expanding: Outlook will analyze entire inboxes, calendars, and meetings; Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will assist content creation using web data and referenced files. Rollout began January 2026, completing by March, with no admin action required for most features. |
| 2026-01-21 | MC prepare | No admin action is required for Copilot Chat in Outlook. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Outlook, you can use Integrated Apps in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Learn more here.
No admin action is required for Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can use the Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat setting. Learn more here. To provide access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents, you must connect to Anthropic's Claude model. Learn how to connect here. [Compliance considerations:] The following considerations are relevant to the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents. Data processing outside of Microsoft: Anthropic's Claude model is hosted outside Microsoft. Data processed by Claude is outside Microsoft-managed environments and audit controls. Microsoft agreements do not apply: Microsoft's Product Terms, Data Processing Addendum, data residency commitments, audit and compliance requirements, SLAs, and Customer Copyright Commitment do not apply when using Anthropic services. Third-party integration: Use of Anthropic services is governed by Anthropic's Commercial Terms of Service and Data Processing Addendum. https://aka.ms/ABSIgnite2025 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage--chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365--app-and-in-outlook https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#microsoft-365--chat-eligibility https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#pinning-settings-for--chat https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-models | No admin action is required for Copilot Chat in Outlook. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Outlook, you can use Integrated Apps in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Learn more here.
No admin action is required for Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. If you'd like to manage Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you can use the Pin Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat setting. Learn more here. To provide access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents, you must connect to Anthropic's Claude model. Learn how to connect here. [Compliance considerations:] The following considerations are relevant to the use of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents. Data processing outside of Microsoft: Anthropic's Claude model is hosted outside Microsoft. Data processed by Claude is outside Microsoft-managed environments and audit controls. Microsoft agreements do not apply: Microsoft's Product Terms, Data Processing Addendum, data residency commitments, audit and compliance requirements, SLAs, and Customer Copyright Commitment do not apply when using Anthropic services. Third-party integration: Use of Anthropic services is governed by Anthropic's Commercial Terms of Service and Data Processing Addendum. https://aka.ms/ABSIgnite2025 https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/privacy-and-protections#organizational-data https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#manage--chat-on-the-web-in-the-microsoft-365--app-and-in-outlook https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#microsoft-365--chat-eligibility https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/manage#pinning-settings-for--chat https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/connect-to-ai-models https://support.microsoft.com/topic/use-copilot-chat-in-microsoft-365-apps-676db5e8-9568-4bdb-bf0b-e207e29e056b |
| 2026-01-21 | MC Summary | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat will expand Outlook support to entire inbox and calendar, add Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint using web data and referenced files, and introduce specialized agents powered by Anthropic’s Claude model. Rollout starts January 2026; no admin action required except connecting to Claude. | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat updates include expanded Outlook reasoning over inbox, calendar, and enterprise data; Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint using web data and files; and new app-specific agents leveraging Anthropic’s Claude model. Rollout begins January 2026, completing by March, with no required admin action. |
| 2026-01-21 | MC Last Updated | 11/18/2025 17:07:30 | 2026-01-21T00:45:53Z |
| 2026-01-21 | MC Messages | [Introduction]
We're introducing new capabilities for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) to help them better manage their day in Outlook and create and refine Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations. These updates include: Copilot Chat in Outlook will expand from reasoning over a single email thread to reasoning over a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data. Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint uses web data and referenced files to help users create and refine content in the apps. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents allow users to create high-quality documents, workbooks, and presentations in Copilot Chat using web data and referenced files. Please find our Microsoft Ignite announcements here. [When this will happen:] We will begin rolling out early January 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026. | Updated January 20, 2026: The change to Copilot Chat in Outlook to expand reasoning to include a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data is starting to roll out across web, new Outlook for Windows, Classic Outlook for Windows, Mac and mobile and is expected to complete in the following weeks. For more information on the data Copilot Chat in Outlook will be able to access, please see Organizational Data in our documentation. Users can learn more about this change from the Use Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps article. There is no update at this time regarding Agent Mode and the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents availability.
[Introduction] We're introducing new capabilities for Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license) to help them better manage their day in Outlook and create and refine Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations. These updates include: Copilot Chat in Outlook will expand from reasoning over a single email thread to reasoning over a user's entire inbox, calendar, meetings, and other enterprise data. Agent Mode in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint uses web data and referenced files to help users create and refine content in the apps. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Agents allow users to create high-quality documents, workbooks, and presentations in Copilot Chat using web data and referenced files. Please find our Microsoft Ignite announcements here. [When this will happen:] We will begin rolling out early January 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026. |
| 2026-01-21 | MC Title | New features coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint | (Updated) New features coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint |
| 2026-01-21 | MC MessageTagNames | Feature update, User impact, Admin impact | Updated message, Feature update, User impact, Admin impact |
Last updated 2 weeks ago ago
