Microsoft has unveiled Copilot Pro’s subscription service at $20 per month for consumers and small businesses, with it building on the free AI Copilot introduced for Bing search last year, to bring advanced capabilities to widely used Microsoft applications like Word and Excel.
Copilot Pro offers users an AI assistant capable of drafting texts and crunching numbers, and provides access to new tools and AI models, including the powerful GPT-4 Turbo. This aligns with Microsoft’s efforts to tap into the growing market for AI-driven productivity tools and cloud software.
Additionally, the company is making its enterprise version more accessible by removing the previous 300-person minimum requirement, allowing smaller businesses to benefit from the security controls and Microsoft Teams upgrade included in the $30 per-month per-user Copilot enterprise subscription.
Microsoft expects widespread adoption of Copilot Pro, anticipating that virtually all its business customers will explore the new offering. Corporate Vice President Jared Spataro spoke on the seamless integration of Copilot Pro into everyday applications, stating, “I can’t imagine a commercial organisation out there that will not buy at least a seat of Copilot to see what it’s all about.”
The move puts Microsoft in direct competition with Google, as both tech giants compete for dominance in the AI productivity and cloud software market. Microsoft’s advantage lies in Copilot Pro’s integration with widely-used applications, providing a unique selling point compared to other subscription-based AI services.
This announcement comes amid a growing trend in the consumer AI market, with ChatGPT’s creator, OpenAI, which Microsoft has invested in, launching a $20-per-month subscription called ChatGPT Plus almost a year ago. However, Microsoft believes Copilot Pro’s integration into everyday applications will set it apart in the competitive landscape.
