In a strategic move towards transforming Copilot into a significant revenue stream, Microsoft has introduced the Copilot Pro plan, a consumer-focused premium offering priced at $20 per user per month. As the umbrella brand for Microsoft’s AI-powered content-generation technologies, Copilot has already seen substantial interest, with over 40% of Fortune 100 companies participating in its early access program.
The Copilot Pro plan provides users with exclusive access to Copilot GenAI features across Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel (in English, currently in preview), PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote on PC, Mac, and iPad. Notably, Copilot Pro is not bundled with a Microsoft 365 subscription but serves as a premium add-on, bringing the total cost of the lowest-tier Microsoft 365 subscription to $27 per month.
Among the enhanced capabilities, Copilot Pro subscribers receive 100 daily “boosts” in Designer, Microsoft’s AI-powered image creation tool, along with improved generation quality and landscape formatting options. Furthermore, subscribers have priority access to the latest GenAI models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo, ensuring better performance during peak times.
Looking ahead, Copilot Pro subscribers can anticipate the ability to switch between models based on preferences and utilize Microsoft’s upcoming Copilot GPT Builder for creating customized “Copilots” tailored to specific topics.
Simultaneously, Microsoft is expanding Copilot’s availability for businesses, making it generally accessible for organizations subscribed to Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, or Office 365 E3 and Office E5. The elimination of the 300-user minimum purchase requirement and the need for a Microsoft 365 license opens up Copilot’s enterprise features to a wider audience.
Distinguishing Copilot for Microsoft 365 from Copilot Pro, enterprise customers gain a Copilot integration within Teams, providing real-time summaries and action items for improved collaboration. Additionally, Copilot for Microsoft 365 offers “enterprise-grade data protection” and the Semantic Index, enhancing personalization and relevance in responses.
While Microsoft emphasizes its focus on paid Copilot plans, it is not neglecting free users. The introduction of Copilot GPTs tailored to specific topics, a free mobile app for Copilot, and expanded language support in the first half of 2024 demonstrate Microsoft’s commitment to making AI-powered content generation accessible to a broader audience. As Copilot evolves, it undoubtedly positions itself as a pivotal player in Microsoft’s expanding portfolio of AI technologies.
