Microsoft has announced that it will be integrating its AI-powered Copilot assistant into Microsoft 365 subscriptions, reversing its previous decision to charge a separate fee for the service. However, this change comes with a price increase for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans.
Initially, Microsoft planned to charge a $20 monthly fee for Copilot Pro licenses on top of the standard Microsoft 365 subscription. This approach was met with resistance, and the company has now opted to include Copilot access as part of the Microsoft 365 bundle.
Microsoft 365 Family and Personal subscribers in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand will automatically gain access to Copilot features upon updating to the latest version of the productivity suite. This integration will enable users to leverage Copilot’s AI capabilities across various applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Paint, Photos, and Notepad.
While the inclusion of Copilot is a significant enhancement, it comes at a cost. Microsoft has announced that it will be increasing the prices of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions to reflect the added value. The extent of the price increase will vary by region, but Microsoft assures users that it will be less than the previous cost of the Copilot Pro add-on.
Furthermore, Microsoft 365 Family subscribers should be aware that Copilot access will be limited to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with other users on the family plan.
In addition to Copilot, Microsoft Designer, a program that allows users to create images from text descriptions, will also be included in the Microsoft 365 subscription. Users will be able to access Designer within applications like Word and PowerPoint, as well as through a standalone web and mobile app.
It remains to be seen whether these changes and price increases will be implemented in other markets around the world. Microsoft has not yet announced any plans for a global rollout.
