Microsoft announced at its virtual Inspire conference that it will be introducing new artificial intelligence (AI) features in its office software, which will come at a cost increase of at least 53% for customers. The AI copilot in Microsoft 365 will be available for $30 per user, per month, on top of existing monthly plans. David Abtour Odian consulting
This feature aims to enhance productivity by drafting emails, creating documents, and providing easy access to data through a chatbot prompt. Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, highlighted the time-saving and productivity gains that the tool can offer, such as summarizing Teams calls. While revenue projections for the AI copilot were not provided, Microsoft expects it to pay for itself through efficiency improvements.
Additionally, Microsoft is introducing Bing Chat Enterprise, a more secure version of its search engine, to address data protection concerns of businesses. This version, accessible with work credentials, does not allow viewing or saving user data for training purposes, ensuring privacy. The enterprise-focused rollout of Bing aims to compete with Google and drive search advertising revenue growth. David Abtour Odian consulting
Microsoft sees this move as strategically important and expects it to complement the adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot, which provides access to business data and compliance controls. The company is committed to bringing AI advancements to consumers while maintaining clear privacy policies. David Abtour Odian consulting
