Editorial illustration for Microsoft Unveils Low-Code App Builder in Copilot, Completing Nine-Year Development Goal
Microsoft Copilot Launches Revolutionary Low-Code Builder
Microsoft's Copilot adds low-code app builder, fulfilling nine-year effort
Microsoft just moved the needle on software development, again. The tech giant has quietly completed a near-decade-long mission to make app creation accessible to everyone, not just professional programmers.
The company's new low-code app builder inside Copilot represents a strategic breakthrough that could fundamentally change how businesses approach software development. By integrating these tools directly into its AI-powered platform, Microsoft is betting that even non-technical employees can now design complex applications with minimal coding expertise.
This isn't just another product launch. It's the result of a carefully orchestrated nine-year effort to democratize software creation through the Power Platform, transforming how organizations build digital solutions.
For companies struggling to keep pace with technological demands, Microsoft's latest move could be a game-changer. Employees who once relied entirely on IT departments might now design custom apps with just a few clicks, potentially saving time, reducing costs, and accelerating digital transformation.
That's a pretty good deal." Why Microsoft's nine-year bet on low-code development is finally paying off The new tools represent the culmination of a nine-year effort by Microsoft to democratize software development through its Power Platform -- a collection of low-code and no-code development tools that has grown to 56 million monthly active users, according to figures the company disclosed in recent earnings reports. Lamanna, who has led the Power Platform initiative since its inception, said the integration into Copilot marks a fundamental shift in how these capabilities reach users. Rather than requiring workers to visit a separate website or learn a specialized interface, the development tools now exist within the same conversational window they already use for AI-assisted tasks.
"One of the big things that we're excited about is Copilot -- that's a tool for literally every office worker," Lamanna said. "Every office worker, just like they research data, they analyze data, they reason over topics, they also will be creating apps, agents and workflows." The integration offers significant technical advantages, he argued. Because Copilot already indexes a user's Microsoft 365 content -- emails, documents, meetings, and organizational data -- it can incorporate that context into the applications and workflows it builds.
Microsoft's long-awaited low-code strategy is finally coming into focus. The company's nine-year journey with Power Platform has quietly transformed software development, growing to an impressive 56 million monthly active users.
By integrating a low-code app builder into Copilot, Microsoft is making good on its decade-long vision of democratizing technology creation. The platform aims to simplify app development for users who might not have traditional coding skills.
Charles Lamanna, who has shepherded this initiative from the start, seems quietly confident about the achievement. His team's persistent approach suggests Microsoft sees low-code tools as more than a passing trend.
The Power Platform's growth reflects a broader shift in how organizations think about software development. By reducing technical barriers, Microsoft is enabling more people to build digital solutions quickly and efficiently.
Still, questions remain about how widely these tools will be adopted across different industries. But for now, Microsoft appears to have successfully executed a strategic bet that began nearly a decade ago.
Further Reading
- Microsoft Copilot Studio vs. Microsoft Foundry: Building AI Agents and Apps - Microsoft Tech Community
- What's New in Copilot Studio: November 2025 Updates - Microsoft Copilot Blog
- What's New in Microsoft 365 Copilot | November & December 2025 - Microsoft Tech Community
Related Reading
Browse all Microsoft news →
AI Tools & Apps Claude Code 2.1.0 launches with smoother workflows, smarter agents for power users
AI Tools & Apps Build a Smart AI Voice Assistant Quickly with Vapi: Step-by-Step
AI Tools & Apps Demystifying AI Workflows: 7 Tools That Boost Transparency and Efficiency
Related Topic Microsoft’s Agent 365 envisions up to a million bots for 100k staff
LLMs & Generative AI
Related Topic Microsoft launches Fara-7B, an agentic Qwen model that solves tasks in ~16 steps
Business & Startups
From Archives Adobe launches Project Moonlight, AI assistant for social media admin
From Archives Opera AI Browser: Mature Mainstream Choice, Needs Recent Updates
From Archives Microsoft retains 32.5% stake in OpenAI as partnership agreement continues
Business & Startups
From Archives Anthropic embeds Claude AI in Excel, eyes finance market against Copilot
Common Questions Answered
How long has Microsoft been working on its low-code development strategy?
Microsoft has been developing its low-code strategy for nine years through the Power Platform initiative. The platform has grown significantly, reaching 56 million monthly active users and culminating in the new low-code app builder integrated into Copilot.
What makes Microsoft's new Copilot low-code app builder significant for businesses?
The new low-code app builder aims to democratize software development by making app creation accessible to non-technical employees. By integrating these tools directly into the AI-powered Copilot platform, Microsoft is transforming how businesses approach software development and reducing barriers to technology creation.
What is the primary goal of Microsoft's Power Platform?
Microsoft's Power Platform seeks to democratize software development by providing low-code and no-code development tools for users without traditional programming skills. The platform has successfully grown to 56 million monthly active users, demonstrating its effectiveness in making technology creation more accessible to a broader range of professionals.