Microsoft is launching a redesigned Copilot application that combines AI chat, coding tools, and autonomous agents in one workspace. Tom Warren reports for The Verge that the company is also renaming its AI assistant Scout as Autopilot.
The new interface has three tabs: Home, Code, and Autopilot. Home becomes the default view and brings together Copilot Chat and Cowork. Microsoft plans to add a Today dashboard that surfaces relevant emails, meeting requests, Teams conversations, and other work updates.
The Code tab expands Copilot beyond writing and summarizing. Users will be able to create internal apps, trackers, dashboards, and automations, then share them with colleagues. Microsoft says the feature uses technology related to GitHub Copilot and runs in a sandboxed environment that can be hosted within an organization’s Microsoft tenant.
Autopilot focuses on persistent AI assistance
Autopilot is designed to work more independently than a chat assistant. It has a cloud-based computer instance and can be assigned recurring tasks, such as monitoring Teams channels or handling follow-ups. Microsoft says each Autopilot instance has its own identity, memory, computer, and workspace, with enterprise permissions, auditing, and governance controls.
The company is separating standard Copilot access from more resource-intensive functions. A regular subscription covers Copilot Chat and integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Cowork, Code, and Autopilot will use consumption-based billing, meaning costs depend on how heavily employees use these capabilities.
IT teams will manage this spending through Microsoft’s FinOps for AI tools. Home and Code will first reach participants in the Frontier early-access program. Autopilot will enter private preview, while Code is also planned for preview access for Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro subscribers.
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