Microsoft’s work Copilot now centers on three capabilities: Home for conversation and delegated tasks, Code for building apps and automations from natural-language descriptions, and Autopilot for assigned work that can continue in the background. They are not all generally available: Microsoft’s product page lists Home and Code in its Frontier program and Autopilot in Private Preview, as of October 3, 2026.
What are Home, Code, and Autopilot?
Microsoft announced the redesigned work Copilot on September 25, 2026. The three names describe different ways to use it, not three interchangeable chat modes. The distinctions are the task each is meant to handle and the access channel Microsoft currently lists. The descriptions below are Microsoft’s claims, not independent hands-on test results. Read Microsoft’s announcement.
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| Capability | Intended task | Access listed October 3, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Start a conversation or delegate a multi-step work task; work with Office files | Frontier |
| Code | Describe an app, dashboard, tracker, automation, or workflow for Copilot to build | Frontier |
| Autopilot | Assign ongoing or recurring work that can continue in the background | Private Preview |
Frontier and Private Preview are early-access channels, not evidence that a feature is included for every Copilot customer. Access may depend on a customer’s license, geography, and tenant configuration.
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Home is a starting place for work Copilot. Microsoft says it brings together recent activity, suggested actions, unfinished work, Chat, and Cowork. It also connects the conversation with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint work.
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Chat for immediate help
Chat is intended for questions, lookups, drafts, and other tasks where a conversational response is useful now.
Cowork for delegated tasks
Cowork is intended for multi-step assignments that produce a deliverable, such as an RFP response, launch kit, customer briefing, or financial-close package. Microsoft says Home will eventually route tasks automatically among Chat, Cowork, and Code; the announcement describes that routing as coming, not as a generally available feature.
Editable Office files
Microsoft says users can ask Copilot to create or update Word documents, Excel workbooks, and PowerPoint presentations from Home, then refine them alongside the conversation. The company says edits stay synchronized with the Office apps and files can be shared with teammates. This is a stated product capability, not an independently verified result.
Rank #2
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
What can Copilot Code build?
Code is designed for users to describe a solution in natural language rather than start by writing code. Microsoft says it can choose an approach and build apps, trackers, dashboards, automations, and workflows. Its examples include desktop widgets, interactive dashboards, and cloud-hosted internal apps.
Microsoft says Code uses the same underlying technology as GitHub Copilot, works in a sandboxed environment, and can be hosted within a customer’s tenant. The company said preview access for Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro subscribers would follow later in 2026; its current product page lists Code as available through Frontier. Those statements do not establish the exact entitlement for every plan, region, or tenant, so organizations should confirm their own access and current terms. Check Microsoft’s current Copilot information.
What does Autopilot do in the background?
Autopilot, previously called Scout, is Microsoft’s concept for a persistent digital teammate. A user gives it a name, role, and goal; Microsoft says it can monitor channels, follow up on threads, handle recurring work, and resume a project later without requiring a new prompt for every step. The company’s example is a supplier-review process spanning scheduling, preparation, meetings, and follow-ups.
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- Unlock Microsoft Copilot in Windows (1) with a dedicated Copilot key: Seamlessly add the everyday AI companion to employee workflows for elevated productivity with a single keystroke
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- Enterprise Secure: Logi Bolt wireless technology addresses security concerns with Bluetooth Low Energy; equipped with Secure Connections Only Mode - Logi Bolt receiver included
- SmartWheel Technology: Designed for different work tasks, the mouse provides precise, line-by-line scrolling or super fast scrolling with a flick of its SmartWheel
- Switch Between Devices: Connect via Logi Bolt or Bluetooth and seamlessly switch between 3 of your devices with the Easy-Switch buttons for easy multitasking
Microsoft describes Autopilot as cloud-hosted, with its own identity, memory, computer, and workspace in an organization’s tenant. It says permissions, audit, and governance apply. Jared Spataro, Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer, AI at Work, characterized it this way: “And Autopilot is cloud-hosted, so it keeps working while you sleep or your attention is elsewhere — no constant monitoring required.” That is Microsoft’s product claim and promotional framing; it does not establish reliability or autonomous performance in a particular organization. The current product page lists Autopilot as Private Preview.
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In its September 25 announcement, Microsoft said Home and Code would begin rolling out to Frontier in the coming weeks, while Autopilot would expand to Private Preview at the end of September. On October 3, the company’s product page listed Home and Code in Frontier and Autopilot in Private Preview. Neither source establishes access for every license, geography, or tenant.
Microsoft also described “Today in Home” and “@Copilot” in Teams as upcoming preview experiences. They should not be read as universally released features. For current status, consult the Microsoft Copilot product page and check with your organization’s administrator.
Rank #4
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
What work context and controls does Microsoft describe?
Microsoft says Copilot is grounded in Microsoft IQ, with Fabric IQ bringing context from Power BI semantic models into Copilot. The September 2026 announcement cites “20+ million semantic models in Power BI.” That is Microsoft’s figure for its available data context, not an independent measure of answer quality or how often Copilot uses those models.
The announcement also said Dynamics 365 and Power Platform data and workflows were planned to enter public preview over the following month. Microsoft described a plugin registry intended to bring Microsoft, partner, and custom-built plugins together under centralized IT approval and management. These are roadmap or product descriptions from Microsoft, not proof that every integration is available to every customer now. Microsoft’s EMEA summary also outlines the launch.
How are the features billed?
Microsoft distinguishes user subscription licensing from usage-based billing (UBB). Its announcement says a user subscription license covers Copilot in Chat and across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, along with model selection and new capabilities. It says UBB applies to Cowork, Code, Autopilot, and certain frontier models.
The announcement does not provide UBB rates, and the reviewed information does not settle entitlements by SKU, region, or tenant. The individual, business, and enterprise plan cards on Microsoft’s product page are not by themselves proof that a particular preview feature is included. Check current licensing and billing terms before estimating costs.
Which capability fits which job?
- Need an answer, lookup, or draft now? Use Chat.
- Need a multi-step deliverable? Cowork is the delegated-work mode Microsoft describes within Home.
- Need a custom tool or workflow? Code is intended to turn a natural-language description into an app, dashboard, tracker, automation, or workflow.
- Need recurring work to continue between prompts? Autopilot is Microsoft’s background-agent concept, currently listed in Private Preview.
For adoption decisions, also compare the access stage, applicable Office-file and tenant context, IT controls, and billing basis. Microsoft describes subscription licensing for everyday Copilot use and UBB for Cowork, Code, and Autopilot, but exact costs and eligibility require confirmation against the customer’s current terms.
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