• Microsoft now offers Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote for free.
• No Copilot license is required to access basic AI tools in Microsoft 365 apps.
• Users can interact with documents directly via an AI-powered sidebar using OpenAI’s technology.

Microsoft is making AI more accessible by introducing Copilot Chat for free across its popular Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. The update is available to all Microsoft 365 users, and importantly, does not require a Copilot license.

The AI powered Copilot Chat appears as a sidebar within these apps, allowing users to ask questions or get help directly from within the document they’re working on. Whether it’s drafting content in Word, analysing data in Excel, or navigating emails in Outlook, Copilot can assist in real time.

Unlike traditional AI tools, Copilot Chat is content aware, it understands the context of your work and responds accordingly. There's no need to copy and paste text or upload documents; users can interact with the content on screen and get tailored AI responses instantly.

Alongside this update, Microsoft will also provide access to features like Pages, image generation, and AI agents, all built into the Microsoft 365 suite. These updates are part of Microsoft’s broader plan to integrate OpenAI’s GPT-5 model across its ecosystem.

Also Read: Microsoft and OpenAI Sign New Tech Deal to Reshape AI Partnership

For users who want more advanced capabilities, Microsoft still offers a $30 Copilot license. This premium version gives access to deeper data analysis across the full Microsoft workspace, priority access to AI features, and tools like Researcher, Analyst agents, and Copilot Studio for building custom agents.

Microsoft’s ongoing partnership with OpenAI continues to power these AI features, blending productivity with intelligent automation. With this latest update, Microsoft aims to make everyday tasks smarter and faster for millions of users, without needing them to switch apps or services.