Microsoft unveils 9 new Copilot features – you can try some now

In 50 years, Microsoft has evolved — in our own Ed Bott’s words — from “nerds writing code to help other nerds write code” into a global technology behemoth, transforming how the world works and staying at the forefront of innovation.

Naturally, when the AI boom hit, Microsoft seized the opportunity and became a leading player, unveiling Bing Chat, now known as Copilot. 

Also: Microsoft at 50: Its incredible rise, 15 lost years, and stunning comeback – in 4 charts

Since the first version of Microsoft’s AI chatbot, numerous updates — including Copilot Voice, Copilot Vision, Deep Research, and more —  have transformed Copilot into a competitive offering. 

Now, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, the company has added many new features that improve the AI tool even further. Here’s the full round-up of everything new with Copilot.

1. Memory 

The memory feature allows Copilot to remember basic information about you.  In the same way you don’t have to explain, in every conversation, your personal details — age, address, job — Copilot gets to know you through each conversation and saves those basic details to its profile. This information will then be used to provide more personalized and high-quality answers. 

Ideally, this feature means users can get AI assistance faster. For example, once Copilot knows your child’s age, when you ask for a bedtime story, the AI will generate an age-appropriate one. ChatGPT has had this feature for over a year. 

To help put users at ease about privacy concerns, the company reminds them that security and privacy are a top priority and that users are in full control. If you want it to only remember some information, you can select which type, or you can opt out of the memory feature entirely. 

2. Appearances

Although AI models are trained to sound like humans, they are intangible, faceless, abstract concepts without a physical form. To help bring another layer of personalization, Microsoft will soon allow users to give their Copilot different appearances, as seen in the video below. 

3. Actions 

This new feature will let Copilot take action on the user’s behalf. All users will have to do is give Copilot a simple text prompt to have it complete tasks compatible with launch partners across the web. For example, the AI can book event trips or reservations by working with launch partners Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, OpenTable, Priceline, Tripadvisor, Skyscanner, Viator, and Vrbo. The feature is coming soon, with no exact timeline provided. 

4. Copilot Vision Update

Copilot Vision is an experience in which Copilot can view and understand the context of what you’re doing online to provide verbal real-time assistance. It launched on the web late last year and is now coming to the mobile and Windows versions. 

Vision on Mobile lets users use their phone’s camera to get real-time feedback. It works similarly to ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, OpenAI’s AI voice assistant that can also assist with what is on your screen or camera. Vision on Mobile is available on iOS and Android starting today. 

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According to Microsoft, the Windows experience is a bit different, as users can use it for assistance with what is on their screen, such as changing settings and organizing files. This experience will be available first for Windows Insiders starting next week in the Copilot app for Windows, followed by a broader rollout.

5. Podcasts

Copilot can create AI-powered podcasts based on any content you’d like to hear about. For example, Microsoft says that you can provide content to it, such as a research study, or the AI can pull information from the web, such as comparing a vacation plan or home purchase. Then, it will elaborate conversationally on that topic, much like a podcast. You can even interrupt it to steer the conversation. 

Also: Want free AI training from Microsoft? You can sign up for its AI Skills Fest now

This feature is similar to Google’s NotebookLM, a tool that converts user content into an AI podcast with two hosts. 

6. Deep Research 

Like the deep research features on Gemini and ChatGPT,  Copilot Research can conduct complex research that typically takes hours of web searching in much less time from many online sources. Then, it compiles the results into one organized document. Microsoft didn’t offer details on how long it would take or how many sources the AI would pull information from.

7. Pages

The Pages feature in Copilot looks much like the interface of a regular text editor. The difference is that it’s infused with Copilot, so it collaborates with you, acting like a co-editor who can analyze, revise, polish, and organize your text. The feature is best visually explained, so I am including the video below. 

8. Shopping 

Copilot can act as your personal shopping assistant, helping you find whatever you describe. It can also provide you with buying advice by building comparisons, researching the products, and even alerting you of price drops. Lastly, you can purchase directly from the app to avoid context switching. 

9. Copilot Search 

One of the biggest announcements was Copilot Search in Bing, which combines the experience of a traditional search engine with the added assistance that generative AI can provide. You can use conversational search terms while receiving answers that are also conversational in nature but pulled from the web in real time. 

All these answers have footnotes so that users can verify the information and conduct their own research. Sources are also displayed prominently by the company to ensure that publishers and the owners of the content referenced are supported in “a healthy web ecosystem,” according to Microsoft. Relevant photos and videos are attached to the responses, making the experience as engaging as possible. 

Also: The best AI search engines of 2025: Google, Perplexity, and more

Loyal Bing users may recall the Bing Generative Search, but this Copilot Search builds on that experience to bring users more value. The experience is rolling out to everyone today, and you can get started by visiting the landing page.

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