Microsoft Unveils AI-powered Copilot 365

RBC Capital analysts provided their key takeaways from Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) virtual event, where it demoed the new AI-powered Copilot for Microsoft 365, Loop, and Power Platform. Microsoft 365 Copilot leverages OpenAI's GPT-4 large language model, combined with the Microsoft Graph of data (your emails, documents, presentations, notes, chat logs) to deliver AI virtual assistance.

Microsoft has not yet disclosed any information about the pricing and packaging plans for Copilot, but analysts suggest a few potential paths to generate revenue. One option could be to follow the monetization strategy used for Teams and Power BI, which involves selling Copilot as part of an existing or new higher-priced O365/M365 SKU. Alternatively, Microsoft may eventually introduce a standalone offering similar to Teams Premium.

According to the analysts, it is unlikely that the company would use the GitHub Copilot playbook to sell Copilot as an add-on. RBC Capital analysts believe that this would improve Microsoft 365's value proposition and user retention, regardless of the chosen approach. Microsoft management claims that the average PowerPoint user only utilizes 10% of the software's full functionality.