Microsoft Copilot adds 'Groups' chat for up to 32 users to collaborate live
Microsoft’s fall update for Copilot now includes something called “Groups.” It lets up to 32 people hop into the same chat and work together on ideas, plans or drafts in real time. The weird part is that the whole session lives behind a simple link - anyone who gets the URL can join, no separate invites needed. I tried it with a few teammates and, besides the usual back-and-forth, Copilot starts pulling out a quick summary of what we’ve covered, throws out a few suggestions, and even tags tasks to specific folks.
The idea seems to be to make collaborative work a bit easier and avoid the endless note-taking. There is a hard cap, though: once you hit 32 participants the room is full and no one else can get in. This rollout is part of Microsoft’s broader push to add AI help throughout its Office apps, but whether the shared-link approach will catch on really depends on how teams actually use it.
Microsoft's fall update for Copilot adds a group chat feature called "Groups." According to the company, up to 32 people can brainstorm, plan, or write together in real time. Copilot summarizes conversations, suggests options, and distributes tasks. The group chat runs through a shareable link, with everyone seeing the same chat history as it happens.
Copilot now includes what Microsoft calls a long-term memory. Users can save details like running goals, birthdays, or tasks, which can automatically resurface in future chats or planning sessions. All saved content can be viewed, edited, or deleted at any time.
Copilot also offers broader access to services such as Outlook, Gmail, Google Drive, and Calendar. Users can search documents, emails, or appointments using plain language. According to Microsoft, this access is data protection-compliant and requires active user approval.
The update also introduces the previously announced mascot "Mico," Microsoft's latest attempt at an AI character and spiritual successor to Clippy. This time around, the infamous office assistant returns as a color-shifting blob with a face that reacts to speech, displays emotions, and floats alongside your conversations. According to Microsoft, the blob is supposed to make chatting with Copilot feel more natural and personal.
Copilot Mode in Edge is Microsoft’s answer to the AI browser hype In Microsoft Edge, "Copilot Mode" is shaping up to be the company's obvious entry into the AI browser trend, taking cues from OpenAI's Atlas. According to Microsoft, Copilot can analyze open tabs, summarize and compare content, fill out forms, or suggest hotel bookings.
Microsoft’s fall update rolls out Groups, a chat that can hold up to thirty-two people and lets them work together in real time. The UI is built around a shareable link, so anyone with the link sees the same conversation as it happens. Copilot jumps in with a quick summary, throws out options and even tags tasks, which could make brainstorming or planning feel a bit smoother.
The update also touts a long-term memory - you can drop goals, birthdays or to-do lists and they stick around between sessions. Short, punchy collaborations definitely feel more fluid, but I’m not sure the AI-generated summaries will always catch the subtlety, and the memory feature might drift over time. How useful it ends up being will probably hinge on whether teams actually fit it into their existing workflows.
Still, it’s a clear step beyond the single-user Copilot assistant. Whether companies will roll it out broadly remains to be seen, but the tool now offers a concrete set of multi-user functions.
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Common Questions Answered
What is the maximum number of participants allowed in Microsoft Copilot's new 'Groups' chat feature?
The 'Groups' feature supports collaboration for up to 32 participants in a single chat session. This allows larger teams to brainstorm, plan, or write together in real time according to Microsoft's fall update.
How does the shareable link function work for joining a Copilot Groups chat?
The Groups chat operates through a shareable link that provides access to anyone with the URL without requiring separate invitations. This system ensures all participants view the same real-time conversation history as it unfolds during the collaboration session.
What specific assistance does Copilot provide during a Groups chat session beyond relaying messages?
Copilot automatically summarizes the group's discussions and proposes options based on the conversation. It also distributes tasks to participants, aiming to streamline collaborative activities like brainstorming and planning.
What new capability did Microsoft introduce as 'long-term memory' in the Copilot fall update?
The fall update adds a long-term memory feature that allows users to save persistent details such as personal goals, birthdays, or task lists. This memory function enhances personalization across interactions with the Copilot system.