Microsoft has recently announced that its Copilot virtual assistant will now be available for small businesses. In addition, consumers who subscribe to the Microsoft 365 software can access a paid version of Copilot. These updates aim to expose more customers to generative artificial intelligence, which was popularized by OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot last year. By expanding access to Copilot, Microsoft hopes to offset the costs of building the necessary data center infrastructure for AI capabilities. This move comes as investors place their bets on Microsoft’s ability to capitalize on the increasing demand for generative AI in various areas, including operating systems, cloud services, productivity tools, web search, and security, despite competition from companies like Amazon and Google.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been emphasizing the central role of AI in the company’s identity. Speaking at Microsoft’s Ignite conference in Seattle in November, Nadella stated, “Our vision is pretty straightforward. We are the Copilot company.” This vision aligns with Microsoft’s continuous efforts to integrate AI technologies into its products and services.
Originally, Copilot was made available to large companies in November and later to faculty and staff at educational institutions in December. For these customers, the add-on came at an additional cost of $30 per person per month on top of existing subscription fees. However, small businesses subscribed to Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard can now sign up for up to 299 licenses at the same $30 per person per month rate, as announced by Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s head of Windows and Surface, in a blog post. Microsoft has also removed the 300-seat minimum requirement for commercial plans, which has been in place since November. Additionally, Copilot can now be used by individuals with Office 365 E3 or E5 subscriptions, which are less expensive than full Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
While individuals have been able to access Copilot for free through various channels such as the Bing search engine and copilot.microsoft.com, consumers who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans have not been able to utilize Copilot’s features within applications like Word, Excel, and Outlook. Microsoft is changing this by introducing a new add-on called Copilot Pro. With Copilot Pro, consumers can now access the latest models, starting with OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo. For a subscription fee of $20 per person each month, Copilot Pro users receive priority access to cutting-edge AI capabilities, the ability to switch between models, and the opportunity to design custom chatbots using the forthcoming Copilot GPT Builder. Copilot Pro is designed to enhance performance, productivity, and creativity for tasks such as writing, coding, designing, researching, and learning.
Microsoft’s expansion of access to its Copilot virtual assistant represents the company’s ongoing commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence in its products and services. By making Copilot available to small businesses and introducing a paid version for consumers, Microsoft aims to meet the increasing demand for generative AI capabilities. These moves not only benefit Microsoft financially but also position the company as a leader in the AI space. As Microsoft continues to innovate and develop AI technologies, it is likely to maintain its competitive edge in the market, despite strong competition from industry giants like Amazon and Google.
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