Microsoft Expands Copilot Reach, Raises Prices for Some Subscribers
New Features and Pricing for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family Subscribers
Microsoft has begun expanding the reach of its Copilot feature set, bringing its AI capabilities to Office apps for anyone currently subscribed to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family. However, the company has also introduced significant price hikes for some subscribers in the Southern Hemisphere.
Access to Copilot Features
In the Southern Hemisphere, Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers have been reporting access to Copilot features in their apps after updating to the latest version. These features include a monthly allotment of AI credits to use Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Designer.
Price Hike
However, subscribers in these regions have also received notifications that their subscription prices will be rising substantially. For example, a Microsoft 365 Family subscriber in Australia received an email stating that their annual subscription will increase from $129 to $179.
Limitations of the New Features
While the new features are free to current subscribers, the upgrade comes with two big gotchas. For Microsoft 365 Family subscribers, the added features are available only to the primary user and cannot be shared with other members. Additionally, the primary user cannot disable the features if they do not want them.
Comparison to Copilot Pro
The current $20-a-month Copilot Pro subscription is prohibitively expensive. The new package offers a reasonable chunk of AI credits for just over $4 a month. However, my quick survey of online forums suggests that very few customers are buying that math.
Global Rollout
Microsoft is expected to roll out the new features and pricing to additional markets, including the US and Western Europe, in the near future. The company has a history of testing new subscription offers on a regional basis before taking them to a worldwide market.
Conclusion
The expanded Copilot feature set is a significant addition to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions. However, the price hike and limitations of the new features have raised concerns among some subscribers. As the company continues to roll out the new features to additional markets, it will be interesting to see how customers respond to the changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the Copilot features?
A: Copilot features include a monthly allotment of AI credits to use Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Designer.
Q: Who can access Copilot features?
A: Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers in the Southern Hemisphere can access Copilot features in their apps after updating to the latest version.
Q: How much does the new package cost?
A: The new package offers a reasonable chunk of AI credits for just over $4 a month.
Q: Can I disable the Copilot features?
A: No, the primary user cannot disable the features if they do not want them. For Microsoft 365 Family subscribers, the added features are available only to the primary user and cannot be shared with other members.
