What changed last month

  1. Word: you can pick a Claude model for editing text. The Copilot pane in Word now has a model picker — next to the default OpenAI model you can choose Anthropic (Claude) models, including Claude Sonnet 5. Handy for longer, more complex documents. (Microsoft 365 Copilot release notes, 11 and 25 August 2026)
  2. Excel: Copilot can now use Python. When editing a workbook with Copilot you can now use Python — useful for analyses and calculations that are hard to do with formulas alone. (Microsoft 365 Copilot release notes, 25 August 2026)
  3. Outlook: read an email without leaving Copilot chat. An Outlook message can be opened directly in the Copilot Chat window — no switching over to Outlook itself. (Microsoft 365 Copilot release notes, 25 August 2026)
  4. Company data from outside Microsoft 365 — officially in Copilot. Federated Copilot Connectors are now generally available — an admin can connect a system outside Microsoft 365 to Copilot so that answers also take its data into account. (Microsoft 365 Copilot release notes, 23 September 2026)
  5. PowerPoint: build a presentation in the browser, nothing to install. PowerPoint for the web now lets you build an entire presentation together with Copilot, without the desktop app. (Microsoft 365 Copilot release notes, 11 August 2026)

Source for all five items: Release Notes for Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Learn, sections dated as above).

A feature worth turning on: remapping the Copilot key in Windows 11

If you have a newer laptop with a dedicated Copilot key and would rather it did something else (or nothing) — Windows 11 now lets you change that without any extra tools.

How to do it:

  1. Open Settings (shortcut Win + I).
  2. Go to Bluetooth & devices → Keyboard.
  3. Find the “Customize Copilot key on keyboard” option.
  4. Choose from the list what should happen when you press it: Search, Copilot or Custom — on newer versions of Windows 11 also Right Ctrl, Context menu or Do nothing.
  5. With Custom, pick any app you want the key to open.

The change takes effect immediately, no restart needed.

Sources: Understand updates to the Copilot key on Windows devices (Microsoft Support); the extra options (Right Ctrl, Context menu) arrived in update KB5124010, 22 September 2026.

Worth knowing: a Copilot that operates legacy systems by itself

Microsoft Copilot Studio now has a “computer use” capability — a Copilot agent can operate applications and websites through their user interface on its own, just as a person would: clicking, filling in forms, moving through the steps. This means it can automate work even in old in-house systems that have no API to connect to. It's still a tool for IT teams and admins rather than an “everyone” feature — but it shows where Copilot is heading.

Source: Announcing computer use in Microsoft Copilot Studio (Microsoft, Copilot Studio blog).

Would you rather have someone roll out Copilot in your company than read about it every month? Get in touch.

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