Microsoft just dropped its boldest Copilot update yet, rolling out group collaboration features and a witty 'real talk' mode that brings back echoes of the AI's controversial Sydney persona. The new features signal Microsoft's push to make AI assistants more social and conversational, targeting everything from study groups to workplace teams with enhanced memory capabilities.
Microsoft is reshaping how we interact with AI assistants. The company just unveiled a massive Copilot overhaul that transforms the service from solo helper to social collaboration tool, complete with personality modes that harken back to its more controversial early days.
The centerpiece is Copilot Groups, a feature that connects up to 32 people in shared AI conversations. Think Discord meets ChatGPT - friends planning weekend trips, students tackling group projects, or colleagues brainstorming can all tap into Copilot's capabilities together. "My guess is you're going to see groups of two or three dominate this," Jacob Andreou, CVP of product and growth at Microsoft AI, told The Verge. "It's not going to be like your long-running group chat suddenly has an AI in it."
But here's the catch - Groups is launching only in the US consumer version, not the business-focused Microsoft 365 Copilot. That's a curious move considering how natural this feels for workplace collaboration. Andreou hints at future enterprise integration: "Bringing experiences like this into Microsoft 365 are going to be really important."
More intriguing is the return of Copilot's personality with "real talk" mode. Remember Sydney, the early Bing chatbot that could turn sassy or even rude? This new mode channels some of that energy without the full chaos. "In real talk this mode will match your tone, add its own perspective, and maybe be a little more witty than people expect," Andreou explains. "It's also going to challenge you, so it won't just agree with everything you say."
Real talk won't be the default - users select it from a dropdown menu, and it's limited to text interactions only. But it represents Microsoft's willingness to let AI personalities emerge again after years of playing it safe following Sydney's controversial reception.
The memory upgrades might be the most significant long-term development. Copilot can now remember facts about your life, relationships, and ongoing projects. "Copilot is getting way better memory. It will be able to remember facts about you, the people you care about, your life, and the things you're working on," Andreou told The Verge.