Microsoft will add free Copilot Chat to Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint (rolling out by March 2026)

At its Ignite developer conference, Microsoft announced it will expand free access to Copilot Chat across key Microsoft 365 apps — including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The company says the assistant will be available without a separate paid Copilot license, with a rollout scheduled through March 2026.

The move broadens access to Microsoft’s conversational AI tools inside the most widely used productivity apps, letting more users ask questions, draft content and get contextual assistance directly within their Office workflows. Microsoft frames the change as a way to put helpful AI capabilities into the hands of more people without an additional subscription barrier.

Key points

• Apps covered: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint (core Microsoft 365 apps).
• Cost: Copilot Chat access will be available without requiring a paid Copilot license.
• Timeline: Microsoft expects the expanded availability to be completed by March 2026.
• Context: Announcement made during Microsoft Ignite as part of the company’s broader AI integration push across its software ecosystem.

Why this matters

Making Copilot Chat free in core Office apps could accelerate adoption of AI‑assisted workflows — from faster email drafting in Outlook to formula help in Excel and slide creation in PowerPoint. For organizations and individual users, easier access lowers the friction of trying AI features and could change expectations about what productivity software should provide.

However, broader availability also raises questions about privacy, data handling, and how Microsoft will manage model behavior and accuracy at scale. IT administrators and compliance teams will likely want clear controls and policies for enterprise deployments.

For developers and power users, the change may open opportunities to build new integrations and automations that leverage Copilot Chat in familiar Office contexts.

Discussion: Would free Copilot Chat in Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint change how you work — or would privacy and accuracy concerns make you cautious? What Office task would you try Copilot on first?