Microsoft has rolled out a major boost to its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform, introducing a new suite of tools designed to handle complex, multi‑step work and deeper research tasks, as competition in workplace artificial intelligence (AI) intensifies.
Microsoft Copilot
The update, part of what Microsoft calls “Wave 3” of Copilot, is aimed at embedding AI more deeply into everyday office workflows, rather than keeping it as a separate chatbot interface.
New “Copilot Cowork” for Long‑Running Tasks
At the core of the update is a new capability called Copilot Cowork, which Microsoft says can manage long‑running, multi‑step tasks across Microsoft 365 applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.
The feature is being released through Microsoft’s Frontier programme, which gives selected organisations early access to experimental tools.
Copilot Cowork is designed to function more like a digital teammate, taking over sequences of actions—such as researching data, drafting documents, creating slides and scheduling follow‑up meetings—while keeping workers informed and in control.
Multi‑Model AI from OpenAI and Anthropic
Another key change is that Microsoft is integrating technology from Anthropic’s Claude AI model into Copilot, alongside its existing use of OpenAI models.
The company describes this as a shift toward a “multi‑model” approach, where different AI systems handle different stages of a workflow rather than relying on a single model.
“For example, one model can draft a response, while another checks it for accuracy, completeness and objectivity,” Jared Spataro, chief marketing officer for AI at Work at Microsoft, explained.
Smarter Researcher with “Critique” and “Model Council”
Microsoft has also upgraded its Researcher feature, which analyses information from multiple sources to generate structured reports.
A new “Critique” function splits the drafting and review process: one AI model creates an initial response, then a second model evaluates and refines it, aiming for higher accuracy and better citations.
In addition, a feature called Model Council allows users to compare outputs from different AI models side‑by‑side, highlighting differences in answers and reasoning.
Microsoft says tests on its internal benchmarks show improvements in the accuracy, completeness and objectivity of Researcher outputs under this new setup.
Copilot as “AI for Work”, Not Just a Tool
Spataro described Microsoft 365 Copilot as “your AI for work”, stressing that it is built directly into existing workplace software rather than as a standalone tool.
“The goal is to make AI a seamless part of how people already use email, documents, spreadsheets and meetings,” he said, noting that Copilot now draws on several AI models and works across the full context of users’ files, chats and meetings.
Industry Trend Toward Multi‑Provider AI
The changes reflect a broader industry trend in which enterprise software vendors combine models from multiple AI providers—such as OpenAI and Anthropic—to improve performance, reliability and flexibility.
Analysts say tying Copilot more tightly to long‑running workflows and multi‑model reasoning positions Microsoft to compete with other workplace‑AI platforms that are also pushing toward “agentic” AI that can execute tasks autonomously.
With “Wave 3,” Microsoft is signalling that the next stage of office AI is not just about generating text, but about orchestrating complex work across the full Microsoft 365 suite.
