Office and Microsoft 365 will soon cost more, and it’s all Copilot AI’s fault

by

Office and Microsoft 365 will soon cost more, and it's all Copilot AI's fault

What you need to know

  • Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans will soon be more expensive in several regions.
  • The price increase is due to the addition of Copilot into various Microsoft 365 apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
  • The addition of Microsoft Designer to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions is also a factor in the price increase.

As a tech enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that I am both excited and concerned about the latest developments with Microsoft 365. On one hand, the integration of Copilot into various Microsoft apps and the addition of Microsoft Designer are undoubtedly game-changers, promising to bring new levels of efficiency and creativity to our favorite productivity suite.

Copilot is on the way to Microsoft 365, and so is Microsoft Designer. Those additions will bring new features to Microsoft’s productivity suite, but they will also drive up the cost of the now-ubiquitous Microsoft 365. Those with Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriptions who are in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, or Thailand will soon receive new AI capabilities in Microsoft 365 apps and have to pay more for the privilege. It’s not confirmed that these changes will take place in other countries.

Microsoft has been offering its Copilots in various Office apps, but until now, they have only been accessible to Copilot Pro subscribers. Over the past nine months, Microsoft has enhanced these Copilots, and they are now ready for a wider release. Here’s what Microsoft plans to roll out to consumers with Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions:

  • Copilot in Word transforms your writing and reading experience by generating outlines or full drafts, suggesting rewrites to better capture your ideas, summarizing long texts into digestible pieces, and even creating unique images to complement your documents. 
  • Copilot in Excel helps you analyze your data to provide actionable insights and graphs, and generates formulas based on your requirements. 
  • Copilot in PowerPoint enhances your storytelling by generating full outlines with visuals, text, and speaker notes, and allows you to create custom images to make your presentations more engaging. 
  • Copilot in Outlook makes managing emails a breeze by drafting emails based on your intent, providing tips to improve tone and clarity, and summarizing email threads to help you catch up quickly. 
  • Copilot in OneNote takes your notetaking to the next level by helping you organize information, create lists, draft plans, generate ideas, and offers insights into past notes. 
Read moreApple Maps now works on your Windows PC... sort of

Microsoft Designer has been integrated into the Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans as well. It operates seamlessly within applications like Word and PowerPoint. Users with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family account will receive monthly credits that can be utilized across several assistant tools (Copilots).

Although these new features may benefit some users, I believe that the rise in cost for Microsoft 365 might grab more attention. This adjustment could concern many, as it suggests that regular users will shoulder the costs associated with Microsoft’s efforts to lead in artificial intelligence. It’s important to note that this isn’t about paying extra for Copilot Pro, which continues to be accessible for those requiring unlimited AI usage; instead, it’s Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family plans experiencing a price bump due to AI.

Is the price of Microsoft 365 going up?

Indeed, there’s a likelihood that the prices for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions will go up. This change seems imminent not just in countries like Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, but potentially worldwide, as new offerings such as Copilot and Designer are integrated with Microsoft 365. In its recent announcement, Microsoft did provide some insights into the possible price adjustments.

I’ve noticed that as we continue to bring value over the last ten years and work towards creating more groundbreaking innovations in the future, we are raising the prices for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions. It is important to note that these price adjustments will affect existing subscribers during their next renewal period. The specific pricing changes vary by market, so please visit our website for accurate local rates. In regards to Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions, the new feature called Copilot will be exclusively available to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with others.

When will the price of Microsoft 365 go up?

Read moreRemnant 2 announces third and final DLC 'The Dark Horizon' on its birthday, and its release date isn't far off

Despite an impending price hike in the market, you still have some leeway before the adjustment impacts you. Presently, existing subscribers are locked into their current rates and will continue to enjoy these prices until their next renewal. When that time comes, the cost will be updated accordingly for each region.

“I hate AI. Can’t I just use Microsoft 365 without AI and pay less?”

It’s somewhat unexpected, but it seems the response to this question is affirmative. While Microsoft might emphasize that their optimal Microsoft 365 experience lies in AI integration, they won’t be limiting users to that alone. In fact, as reported by ZDNet, a traditional Microsoft 365 (Classic) option will still be accessible at a price point comparable to your current Microsoft 365 subscription cost.

Read More

2024-11-06 19:39