Microsoft Recasts M365 Hub as Copilot App, Centralizing AI Chat for 3 Core Office Tools
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · May 20
Microsoft Recasts M365 Hub as Copilot App, Centralizing AI Chat for 3 Core Office Tools
6 articles · Updated · Computerworld · May 20
Microsoft has turned its longtime Microsoft 365 web hub into the M365 Copilot app, making Copilot Chat the main interface while Search and Apps move to the sidebar.
Word, Excel and PowerPoint agents now let users generate first-draft documents, spreadsheets and presentations from prompts or attached files, with outputs saved automatically to OneDrive.
Analyst features for file analysis, forecasts and version comparisons are limited to Premium subscribers or business users with add-on Copilot licenses, though basic Copilot Chat now reaches most M365 plans.
Large enterprise users without a Copilot add-on have lost in-app Copilot access inside Word and other M365 apps, making the web-based M365 Copilot app their only route to Copilot Chat.
The redesign shows Microsoft shifting Microsoft 365 from an app launcher toward an AI-first workspace for creation, analysis and collaboration across web and mobile clients.
Is Microsoft's Copilot paywall creating an unavoidable productivity gap between employees within the same company?
As AI costs soar, is Microsoft's new license model the only path to profitability for enterprise AI?
Microsoft Copilot App Achieves 10x User Growth: AI-Powered Productivity, Agentic Workflows, and Enterprise Security in 2026
Overview
By May 2026, Microsoft has transformed its productivity suite by evolving the Microsoft 365 app into the centralized Microsoft Copilot app, placing artificial intelligence at the core of user experience. This shift began with the original Office app in 2019, which was later rebranded as Microsoft 365 and then, in November 2024, announced for a Copilot-focused rebranding. The new Copilot app streamlines access to AI-powered productivity tools, aiming to make workflows more efficient and user-friendly. This strategic evolution marks a pivotal moment in how users interact with Microsoft’s ecosystem, centralizing advanced AI capabilities for everyday tasks.