Microsoft has launched another visual redesign for Copilot, this time focusing on making the AI assistant more professional and consistent across Microsoft 365 apps. The changes affect Copilot in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and the standalone Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
The most noticeable change is how much color has disappeared from Copilot’s interface. While the AI can still produce colorful outputs and reference apps by their icons, the default interface is now primarily black and white with a heavy focus on text. Microsoft says this shift was driven by readability concerns and an effort to “craft intelligence that feels present but not imposing.”
The redesign also introduces a new “prompt surface” that adapts as you type. Start with a simple text request, and Copilot responds normally. But mention the AI’s other capabilities like research or visualization tools, and the text box expands to show relevant menu options for file selection or visual guidance. Side panels and menus now collapse when not needed, keeping the interface clean.
Most importantly for productivity users, Copilot now appears in the same location across all Microsoft 365 apps – a consistent side pane that works the same way whether you’re in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. This addresses a major complaint from users who struggled with different Copilot implementations across Microsoft’s software suite.
The changes reflect Microsoft’s broader reconsideration of how AI fits into its products. The company has been pulling Copilot out of some Windows 11 features after user feedback and is becoming more selective about where AI appears. This comes as Microsoft’s AI strategy faces significant shifts, including changes to its OpenAI partnership and investments in competing AI companies.
However, the professional makeover only applies to Microsoft 365 for now. The consumer version of Copilot in Microsoft’s mobile app still maintains its colorful, friendly appearance from its 2024 launch. Whether the business-focused design will spread to other Copilot versions depends on how Microsoft’s evolving AI strategy plays out.
The visual redesign alone won’t solve the functionality issues that Windows users have raised about Copilot, but it signals that Microsoft is still actively rethinking its approach to AI integration across its product lineup.
