Microsoft Merges Copilot Apps and Drops AI Features
3 min read
Microsoft is simplifying its Copilot strategy, bringing its consumer and business-focused apps together while removing several AI features that failed to gain enough traction.
The move comes roughly two years after Microsoft described artificial intelligence as a “generational shift” that it wanted to lead. Now, the company is taking a different approach by reducing the number of separate Copilot experiences and focusing on a more unified product.
As first reported by GeekWire and later outlined in Microsoft’s support documentation, Microsoft plans to combine the capabilities of its consumer Copilot app with those of the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. The change reflects a growing realization that the ways people use AI at home and at work are increasingly similar.
It also highlights the challenges Microsoft has faced in making Copilot a strong competitor to popular AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
Microsoft Joins a Wider AI Consolidation Trend
Microsoft isn’t the only major AI company simplifying its product lineup.
The AI industry has recently seen several companies bring previously separate tools into their main chatbot applications. Anthropic has moved Cowork’s functionality into Claude, while OpenAI has incorporated its Operator agent technology into ChatGPT. Google has also expanded its Gemini app by combining capabilities such as deep research and web browsing.
Microsoft’s Copilot consolidation follows the same broader direction: fewer standalone AI experiences and more capabilities within a central application.
Several Copilot Features Are Going Away
The changes will come with some noticeable feature removals.
According to Microsoft, consumers will lose access to Group Chats, AI-generated podcasts, Copilot Labs experimental features, and Deep Research by August 18, 2026.
Professional users who pay for Microsoft’s services will have an alternative to Deep Research. Microsoft says its Researcher feature will take on that role for those customers.
Another feature being removed is Mico, Copilot’s animated AI character. The floating blob was designed to give Copilot a more playful personality and was often compared to an AI-powered version of Microsoft’s famous Clippy assistant.
Microsoft also cautions that other features could temporarily disappear while the company completes the transition.
Files created through the standalone Copilot app will not simply be abandoned. Microsoft says those files will be moved to OneDrive as part of the migration.
A Simpler Copilot Experience
Microsoft says the main objective is to create a “simpler, more cohesive experience” for Copilot users. By bringing the consumer and professional versions closer together, the company hopes to make the product easier to understand and use.
But the changes also point to a more significant issue inside Microsoft’s AI strategy.
In July, The Information reported that Microsoft executive Jacob Andreou, who oversees Copilot, told employees in an internal memo that the product needed to earn “the right to exist” in customers’ lives.
That message suggests Microsoft is becoming more selective about which Copilot features deserve continued investment. Instead of keeping experimental or unpopular tools simply because they are AI-powered, the company appears ready to remove features that do not provide enough value.
For Microsoft, the Copilot changes represent a shift from rapidly adding AI capabilities toward building a more focused product. Whether that simpler approach can help Copilot compete more effectively with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini will become clearer as the new unified experience rolls out.
