Microsoft's continuous evolution of its 365 suite brings a host of new features aimed at enhancing user productivity and experience. Recent updates to Outlook, Copilot, and Teams introduce functionalities that address longstanding user requests and integrate advanced AI capabilities.
Outlook Enhancements
The new Outlook for Windows client is set to receive several practical updates:
- Offline Attachments: Users will soon be able to add attachments to emails while offline, a fundamental feature that has been notably absent.
- Desktop Alert Rules: Scheduled for August, this feature allows users to create rules that trigger desktop alerts, enhancing notification management.
- Folder Deletion Warnings: Also arriving in August, Outlook will prompt users if they attempt to delete a folder associated with an email rule, preventing accidental disruptions.
Copilot Integration
Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot, is being further integrated into the 365 suite:
- Document Summaries: By mid-2025, Copilot will provide quick summaries of recent changes and comments in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint directly from the backstage view, allowing users to grasp document updates without opening them.
- Focused Responses in Copilot Chat: Users will be able to limit Copilot Chat's responses to selected content sources, such as specific SharePoint sites or files, ensuring more relevant and precise answers.
- PowerPoint Enhancements: In July, PowerPoint users can utilize Copilot to rewrite selected text using custom prompts and add new topics to existing presentations, with Copilot generating slides that match the current design.
- Edge Browser Integration: By August, Edge's integrated Copilot Chat will access content across multiple open tabs, not just the active one, facilitating more comprehensive assistance.
Teams Rooms Pro Update
For organizations utilizing Teams Rooms Pro on Windows, an August update will introduce simultaneous town hall and webinar views. This feature ensures that presenter's backstage controls, such as green room and backroom chat, remain hidden from the main audience display, maintaining a professional presentation environment.
These developments reflect Microsoft's ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration tools and integrate intelligent features across its platforms.
Source: Neowin Microsoft 365 Roadmap Weekly: New features for the new Outlook, Copilot updates and more
