Microsoft 365 in 2024: 6 Major Changes We've Seen This Year

Microsoft 365 in 2024: A Year of AI Integration and Major Shifts

2024 proved to be a transformative year for Microsoft 365, marked by significant advancements in AI and notable changes to its core applications. Let's examine the key developments impacting its 400 million subscribers.

1. Copilot's Ascendance:

Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant, dominated the 2024 narrative. Boasting real-time intelligence to boost productivity, it integrates across Word (idea generation, drafting), Outlook (email summarization, folder management), and Excel (data analysis, complex tasks). The September launch of Copilot Pages, a persistent canvas for collaborative editing of AI-generated content, further solidified its presence. While acknowledging potential biases and inaccuracies in its Large Language Model, Microsoft's commitment to Copilot's future is undeniable.

2. Publisher's Sunset:

The long-standing Microsoft Publisher, a staple for creating posters and cards since 1991, is officially retiring in October 2026. Facing a lack of modern features and overshadowed by more contemporary offerings like Microsoft Designer (an AI-powered graphic design app), Publisher's discontinuation reflects Microsoft's strategic focus on its more popular applications.

3. New Outlook's Mixed Reception:

The August rollout of the updated Outlook met with considerable user disappointment. Criticisms centered on the loss of features from the classic version, including unified inboxes, Exchange ActiveSync connectivity, and complex rule creation capabilities. While Microsoft touts its "future-proof" design, many users perceive the new Outlook as a step backward in terms of productivity and user-friendliness. The transition period until Classic Outlook's 2029 retirement will be crucial for addressing these shortcomings.

4. Office 2024's Arrival:

October 1st saw the release of Office 2024, a one-time purchase option for desktop applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote). This non-subscription model, the first since 2021, offers a streamlined, offline-capable alternative to the full Microsoft 365 suite, appealing to users seeking a less resource-intensive and upgrade-free experience. This release has been largely well-received.

5. Copilot's Subscription Shift:

Initially a $20 add-on, Copilot's mandatory fee was dropped in November for Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand. Instead, access is now integrated into updated subscriptions, albeit with a slight price increase for all subscribers in those regions, regardless of Copilot usage. This shift suggests a possible recalibration of Microsoft's monetization strategy for Copilot.

6. Excel's Enhancements:

Beyond Copilot, Microsoft demonstrated a commitment to enhancing Excel. Key updates included automatic data syncing from Microsoft Forms, the addition of checkbox functionality, and powerful new functions like PIVOTBY, GROUPBY, and REGEX support. The integration of Python, rolled out publicly in 2024 after a 2023 preview, allows for powerful data manipulation within the Excel environment.

Looking Ahead:

Copilot is set to play a central role in Microsoft's 2025 plans, even influencing the Microsoft 365 icon design. However, the long-term impact of these 2024 changes, particularly the reception of the new Outlook and the evolving Copilot strategy, remains to be seen.

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