On September 16, 2024, Microsoft introduced the next phase of Microsoft 365 Copilot, also known as Wave 2. This release brings various AI-powered tools that could significantly impact the way people work. The central theme of this update is the integration of Web + Work + Pages as a new design strategy for knowledge work. Microsoft views these innovations as a way to enhance productivity for more than 400 million users worldwide.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2?
Wave 2 builds upon the earlier version of Copilot, introducing new AI tools that, according to Microsoft, can lead to a substantial increase in productivity. Over the past year, more than 150 new features have been rolled out, based on user feedback and the latest technologies. Below is an overview of the key features of Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2, as presented by Microsoft.
Copilot Pages: the future of collaboration
Pages is introduced by Microsoft as a new digital artifact for the AI era. It offers a canvas for teams to collaborate on AI-generated content that is editable, expandable, and shareable. This is designed to provide a new way of capturing information and encouraging knowledge sharing within teams.
Copilot in Excel GA: AI for business data
Copilot in Excel GA enables companies to manage and analyze their data more effectively. The new features allow for the processing of unstructured data, with support for more formulas and visualizations such as charts and pivot tables. Microsoft views this as a valuable extension of Excel’s capabilities, making data processing simpler and more powerful.
Python in Excel: advanced analytics without programming
With the integration of Python in Excel, businesses gain access to advanced analytics, such as predictive analysis and machine learning. All of this can be done through natural language, without requiring programming knowledge. According to Microsoft, this enables deeper data analysis without the need for specialized data scientists.
Narrative Builder in PowerPoint: perfect presentations in an instant
With Narrative Builder, Copilot helps users create presentations. Through a simple prompt, an initial version of the presentation can be automatically generated. This saves time and provides users with a convenient foundation to build upon.
Copilot in Teams: comprehensive insights into your meetings
Copilot in Teams makes it easier to follow and summarize meetings. By analyzing both the transcript and the chat, a complete overview of what was discussed is generated. This helps users better understand and capture all key points from a meeting.
Prioritizing inbox in Outlook: say goodbye to email overload
Copilot in Outlook introduces a new way of managing emails. By summarizing and prioritizing messages based on content and the user’s role, Copilot helps reduce email overload. Users can quickly identify what is important and manage their inbox more efficiently.
Copilot Agents: smart AI assistants that automate business processes
Copilot Agents offer new opportunities to automate business processes with the help of AI assistants. These agents can perform tasks and collaborate with human users. Companies can customize these AI agents in platforms like BizChat and SharePoint, enabling the integration of specific workflows and data sources.
Conclusion
Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2 offers a range of new AI innovations that can significantly transform work for organizations. Whether it’s collaborating in Pages, advanced data analysis in Excel, or automating processes with Copilot Agents, Microsoft positions these tools as ways to increase productivity and efficiency.
More information: Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2: Pages, Python in Excel, and agents | Microsoft 365 Blog