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Microsoft announced the launch of Copilot Pro, a premium version of its AI companion, Copilot, aimed at giving individual users enhanced AI capabilities. Starting today, users can subscribe for $20 per month. This Pro version offers priority access to the latest GPT models from OpenAI during peak times, faster image generation, and an upcoming dedicated Copilot GPT Builder.
“Our goal is to empower everyone to achieve more by bringing Copilot to millions worldwide. We’ve reached another milestone with over 5 billion chats and images,” said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s executive VP and consumer chief marketing officer, in a blog post. He also mentioned that the Copilot app is now available for Android and iOS devices.
Microsoft’s Copilot Pro is designed to cater to individual power users such as developers, designers, and researchers who need more advanced features but not at the business scale. This new tier enhances performance and capabilities, offering a unified experience across various platforms and Microsoft 365 apps, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. Users can draft documents, get email summaries, or create presentations through conversational interactions with these apps.
Copilot Pro provides priority access to OpenAI’s GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo models at all times, allowing users to get things done faster. Microsoft is also working on features to let users switch between models for an optimized experience. For creators and designers, the Pro version offers faster and higher-quality image generation using OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model, with 100 boosts per day compared to the standard 15.
Microsoft also introduced a GPT Builder for Copilot Pro, allowing users to create custom Copilots for specific topics using simple prompts. Initial GPTs focused on fitness, travel, and cooking will start rolling out, with users eventually being able to build their own.
Additionally, Mehdi announced incremental improvements, including the general availability of the Copilot app on Android and iOS, and the removal of the 300-seat minimum purchase for organizations. Small businesses can now use Copilot for Microsoft 365 under the Business Premium and Business Standard plans, with prices set at $30 per user per month.
Introducing a Pro tier for Copilot indicates Microsoft’s intent to monetize its AI companion while maintaining its accessibility. However, this change may pose a challenge for users who previously enjoyed free, unrestricted access to GPT-4 models. Many users on X (formerly Twitter) have expressed disappointment over the shift to restricted access during non-peak hours for non-paying users, highlighting the potential financial barrier for many.
While this strategy makes business sense, it remains to be seen if users will upgrade to the Pro version or continue with the limited free version.