Microsoft is merging its consumer-facing Copilot app and business-oriented Microsoft 365 Copilot app, and discontinuing a series of AI features, TechCrunch reported on 13 August, citing GeekWire and Microsoft support documentation. By 18 August, consumers will lose access to Group Chats, AI-generated podcasts in Copilot, Copilot Labs experimental features and Deep Research. A tool called Researcher will offer a replacement for Deep Research for paying professional users, “at least”. Files generated by the standalone Copilot app will be migrated to OneDrive. Copilot will also discontinue Mico, its animated character.
Microsoft said the goal was to make Copilot a “simpler, more cohesive experience”. In July, The Information reported an internal memo from Microsoft EVP Jacob Andreou, who oversees Copilot, saying it needed to earn “the right to exist” in customers’ lives and move on from features that had not worked.
TechCrunch framed the change as part of broader consolidation in the AI-app market — noting that Claude had merged Cowork into Chat and OpenAI had merged Operator into ChatGPT — and as an admission that Copilot had “lost its way”.
