Microsoft is enhancing its Office apps, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with new AI capabilities available for free. These additions are set to roll out in early 2026 and will not require the $30 monthly Microsoft 365 Copilot license. The free version of Copilot Chat, introduced in September, will soon be able to access content across an entire Outlook inbox, facilitating inbox management and meeting preparations without a paid license. Additionally, Agent Mode, previously exclusive to paid subscribers, will be available to all Microsoft 365 users in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This feature allows for the creation of complex documents and spreadsheets with simple prompts and supports both Anthropic and OpenAI reasoning models in Excel. In PowerPoint, Agent Mode can update presentations with branded templates and enhance slides with new text and images. Microsoft plans to preview these AI features by March 2026. The company is also introducing a Microsoft 365 Copilot Business plan for small and midsize businesses, priced at $21 per month, available for enterprises with fewer than 300 users.
Are Microsoft’s Office apps getting more free AI features?
