During Microsoft Ignite 2023, Microsoft rolled out new branding for its AI-driven chatbot initially introduced in Bing this year, now naming it Copilot in Bing. Additionally, the more specialized, business-oriented edition, formerly known as Bing Chat Enterprise, has adopted the Copilot name as well.
Microsoft insists the reason behind the name shift isn't to sow confusion, despite the fact that the company has numerous products carrying the Copilot moniker. The goal, as explained by Microsoft's Director of Communications Caitlin Roulston, is to streamline the experience across consumer and commercial levels with a singular Copilot branding.
Beyond the fresh naming, substantial changes are coming into effect on December 1. Corporate users logging into Bing with their Microsoft Entra IDs will gain "commercial data protection," ensuring that their data will neither be retained nor utilized in AI model training, according to Roulston. Microsoft will maintain the privacy of that data, disallowing any internal access.
The rebranding to Copilot signifies more than just a name alteration. It marks the transition to a broadly available offering from Microsoft, adopting the company's comprehensive licensing terms for online services. Roulston suggested that over time, Microsoft plans to stretch Copilot's access to an even broader base of Entra ID clientele at no extra expense.
Currently integrated into the Windows ecosystem, Copilot is also available through Copilot.Microsoft.com and the Bing platform, incorporated within several of Microsoft's corporate subscription plans like Microsoft 365's E, E5, Business Premium, and Business Standard packages at no added cost. Starting December 1, Microsoft will include the service in the Microsoft 365 F3 plan and offer it separately to other customers for a monthly fee of $5.