COPILOT FEATURE
Research: How AI Agents Broaden the Scope of Knowledge Work
AI agents don’t just speed up knowledge work; they change its nature. In a field study of Perplexity’s conversational assistant and autonomous agent, researchers found that not only did the agent perform more autonomous work, cut task time, lowered cost, and left users more satisfied, but it also expanded the scope of work people attempted—crossing occupational boundaries, tackling more complex, multi-step projects, and generating tasks that rarely appeared with a standard assistant. As workers shift from operators to supervisors, leaders must redesign roles, workflows, and oversight to harness agents’ potential while governing their expanded autonomy.
Before Perplexity, Aravind Srinivas built a Twitter search tool that changed his startup's direction
Aravind Srinivas and his co-founders experimented with a Twitter search tool before focusing on Perplexity's web search product. An unexpected response to a feature that summarised social media profiles helped shape their next move, eventually leading to a broader mission centred on knowledge and curiosity.
AI adoption rises sharply among US small businesses, but technical expertise remains key challenge: Goldman Sachs
AI adoption among rural small business owners has significantly increased, reaching 80% in 2026. Despite this growth, a lack of technical expertise is still an issue hindering deeper integration. Most users rely on low-cost generative AI tools and integrate them with existing software.
Zoom wants AI agents to do the work that follows the meeting
Zoom has introduced a new AI platform that converts business conversations into tasks, enhancing productivity. This platform integrates data from meetings, calls, and chats to provide valuable context. The new features allow users to access meeting summaries and automate workflows across various applications.
Microsoft now treats AI agents as insiders risks that could go rogue
The company’s new security tools give every AI agent a risk score that keeps updating, and they cut back the agent’s access when that score rises. Microsoft says agents can make mistakes, be manipulated or be compromised, like any other insider.
UK competition regulator targets Microsoft's business software grip
Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority has proposed designating Microsoft with strategic market status over its business software, potentially enabling interventions in how it bundles products such as Excel, Teams and Copilot. The regulator is examining switching barriers, AI competition, security product bundling and licensing practices, with a final decision expected by February.
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Snapdragon X2 Plus puts AI at the heart of Lenovo’s new Yoga Slim 7x
Qualcomm’s mainstream AI silicon meets Lenovo’s flagship thin-and-light design and Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC software, sharpening the case for Arm-based Windows PCs. The result is a slick, smart, and savvy Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x.
Lessons from Chinese AI Firms on Owning Customers’ Habits
As U.S. AI firms compete in an escalating race for superior models, bigger benchmarks, and more advanced features, Chinese companies are pursuing a fundamentally different strategy: embedding AI into users’ everyday habits. The authors argue that this “habit moat” approach may prove more durable than competing on raw capability alone. Whereas Western firms position AI as a destination consumers consciously visit, companies like Alibaba integrate AI into existing routines such as shopping, payments, food delivery, and travel booking, reducing friction until using AI becomes automatic behavior. Once AI capabilities become “good enough,” marginal technical improvements matter less than becoming the default path through recurring customer tasks. The authors outline four strategic imperatives for Western leaders: focus on behavioral cues rather than feature gaps, subsidize customer behavior instead of subscriptions, embed AI invisibly into existing workflows, and optimize for repeat usage rather than first-time adoption. The central warning is stark: AI may not replace employees first—it may instead capture the critical customer moments businesses currently own.
Microsoft integrates Word, Excel deeper into Copilot
On the billing side, a Copilot subscription for $30 per user per month provides access to basic AI features, such as data analysis or document drafting. "That is the AI that you should give to everyone" in your company, Andreou said.
Microsoft abandons personal AI chatbot race with Copilot reboot
The result of a six-month engineering effort, the latest iteration of the assistant has absorbed the separate version for home use, adopting some of its slick design features, and casting aside the marketing that sought to position the company as a builder of personal AI.
AI in Indian homes: Samsung sees 30% growth in SmartThings users, makes Knox its security pitch
Samsung sees significant growth in its Indian SmartThings user base. Consumers are increasingly adopting AI-enabled appliances for home management. Energy saving and elderly care are key AI use cases emerging now. Premiumisation trends are driving AI integration into higher-end products. Security remains a focus as more devices connect to the internet.
Seattle Times, Newsday sue OpenAI, Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement
The suit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft scraped the newspapers' websites, including content behind paywalls, and incorporated articles into datasets used to train and operate products including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and Bing's AI features.
With Catalyst 3.0, Zoho focuses on what happens after AI writes the code
Catalyst 3.0 is Zoho’s attempt to close that gap by connecting AI coding assistants directly with the cloud infrastructure needed to run an application.
Microsoft AI's chief marketing officer Andra Mallard exits after 6 months as Copilot faces intense competition from ChatGPT and Claude. No one is replacing her
Microsoft AI CMO Andra Mallard is leaving after just six months, as the company reshapes its Copilot strategy amid intense competition from OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. Mallard plans to move her family to Europe to be closer to her ailing father and will remain at Microsoft in an advisory role until early next year. Microsoft is not replacing her.
Microsoft unveils AI upgrades, rolls out Copilot Cowork to early-access customers
Microsoft has launched new features for its Copilot research assistant. Users can now employ multiple AI models together for improved accuracy and speed. This multi-model approach aims to reduce AI errors and boost productivity. Microsoft is also making its Copilot Cowork agentic AI tool more widely available. These upgrades come amid strong competition in the AI market.
US Stocks: Microsoft unveils AI upgrades, rolls out Copilot Cowork to early-access customers
Microsoft on Monday unveiled new features in its Copilot research assistant that would allow users to utilize multiple AI models simultaneously within the same workflow, the latest move by the tech giant to improve its AI offering and boost adoption.
Microsoft introduces new Copilot features such as collaboration, Google integration
Microsoft unveiled new Copilot features, enhancing collaboration and integrating with services like Outlook and Google to compete in the booming AI market. The digital assistant can now analyze browser tabs, summarize information, and book hotels, while a new avatar, "Mico," aims to make interactions more natural.
Microsoft launches new AI upgrades to Windows 11, boosting Copilot
Users can now use the wake word "Hey Copilot" to activate the AI assistant and execute voice commands in a new opt-in feature on any Windows 11 PC, Microsoft said.
Microsoft launches 365 Premium with Copilot AI assistant
The company will stop selling Copilot Pro and existing Copilot Pro and Microsoft 365 Personal or Family customers can switch to Premium. Microsoft, which also has a free version of Copilot, had launched its Copilot Pro at $20 per month last year.
Microsoft just put Copilot AI in Excel, but there's a catch - here's what it is
Microsoft Excel Copilot AI helps users create formulas, summarize data, and generate text using easy prompts. It is only for simple tasks, not for exact calculations or financial reports. The tool is in beta, available to Microsoft 365 Copilot users, and keeps your data private. Copilot saves time but has usage limits and can make mistakes.
Microsoft launches AI-based Copilot Mode in Edge browser
Microsoft has launched a new "Copilot Mode" in its Edge browser, using AI to enhance browsing. It helps with tasks, compares tabs, supports voice navigation, and may soon manage bookings. Users control access and can opt out. The update follows rising competition in AI-powered search and browser tools.
Microsoft 365 Copilot updates: From audio overviews to DIY AI agents, here’s what Satya Nadella revealed
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he is putting Copilot at the heart of his workday, calling it the “scaffolding” for everything he does. In his latest update, Nadella spotlighted new Copilot features—like Researcher and Analyst agents, Notebooks for project organisation, and a growing Agent Store—saying these tools have completely transformed the way he works
Microsoft rebrands Office suite to Microsoft 365 Copilot, emphasising AI
Microsoft has been gradually introducing the Copilot branding, signalling its commitment to AI-powered tools and services. The rebranding coincides with a recent price increase for Microsoft 365 subscriptions, justified by the integration of Copilot into the base plan.
Microsoft unveils new taskbar UI and keyboard shortcut for Copilot on Windows
Microsoft is revamping its Windows Copilot with a new "native" interface for testers. A new quick view feature, accessible via Alt + Space or the system tray, keeps Copilot on top of applications. However, this shortcut may conflict with other apps. The update also comes to Windows 10, despite its impending end-of-support.
Microsoft unveils Copilot+ PCs: All you need to know about these flagship AI-powered computers
Microsoft launched Copilot+ PCs, its flagship AI-powered personal computers. The devices are described as the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built, incorporating AI at the operating system level. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Copilot+ PCs mark the beginning of a new era for Windows, empowering users to be more productive and creative.
ETtech Explainer: Microsoft brings Copilot Pro to smartphones; here's what it can do
Microsoft's Copilot Pro will let users customise the behaviour of Microsoft Copilot on a topic of particular interest, such as fitness, travel, cooking, etc. Copilot capabilities are also integrated in the Microsoft 365 mobile app which hosts all commonly used applications such as Word and Excel, across phones and PCs.
Microsoft testing way to automatically launch its Copilot AI in Windows 11
The company is testing the update as part of its most recent Dev Channel preview of Windows 11, so testers can provide feedback before the full release.
Microsoft announces integration of AI assistant Copilot across its apps, services, Bing search
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that the artificially intelligent assistant would fundamentally change personal computing by allowing people to converse more freely with their devices in their “natural language”.
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