Microsoft is reportedly adjusting its Microsoft 365 subscription offerings in select regions by integrating the Copilot AI assistant into the package. According to reports, the tech company has begun bundling Copilot, which is designed to enhance productivity within applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, with its subscription service. However, this enhancement comes with an increase in the subscription price for users in these areas.
Microsoft 365 Subscription With Copilot
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Microsoft has started to implement this new feature in Australia and various Southeast Asian countries. Users do not need to take any action to access Copilot, and there is currently no option to opt-out of this AI integration.
While the addition of a new feature might typically be perceived positively, the price increase accompanying the Copilot integration has raised concerns among users. Unlike in the United States, India, and other regions, these users cannot choose whether or not to utilize the AI features.
An example highlighted by the report features Alistair Fleming, an Australian YouTuber, who noted that Microsoft is actively encouraging users to engage with the AI capabilities. Fleming, who uses Word for scripting his videos, reported receiving persistent reminder notifications from Copilot after each line he writes. The AI assistant frequently prompts him with suggestions to enhance his writing.
“It was very keen to be used, and this was irritating to me as a user,” Fleming shared with the publication. He also indicated that his Microsoft 365 subscription increased from AUD 11 (approximately Rs. 585) to AUD 16 (around Rs. 852). The report does not clarify whether users were informed via email about this price change and the new bundling strategy.
This initiative appears to be an experimental rollout, and there is uncertainty about whether it will be extended to other countries. In India, the standard Microsoft 365 subscription remains free of Copilot features; users interested in the AI assistant must pay an additional Rs. 2,495 monthly for the Copilot 365 add-on. This approach mirrors a strategy also employed by Google’s competing services.
