New Features in Microsoft 365 Copilot Enhance User Productivity
Just when I thought I’d figured out all the ways Microsoft 365 Copilot could level up my day, February 2025 rolled in with a fresh batch of features that made me say, “Wait… it can do that now?”
The Copilot team continues to deliver updates that aren’t just flashy — they’re practical. These aren’t features for the sake of features. They’re built to save time, reduce mental load, and honestly, make work a little more enjoyable.
Here’s a quick rundown of my favorite new features this month — and why I think they’re worth a spot in your daily workflow.
1. Copilot in OneNote – Context-Aware Summaries & Action Plans
Finally! OneNote users rejoice. Copilot now analyzes your notes and creates context-aware summaries, to-do lists, and even suggested action items.
I tested this after a strategy session where the notes were, well, all over the place (thanks to my brain moving faster than my typing). Copilot sorted the chaos into organized sections, highlighted key takeaways, and flagged tasks I’d completely forgotten about. Absolute game-changer.
2. Voice Commands in Outlook with Natural Language Processing
This one’s great for folks who work on the go — or those of us who talk faster than we type. You can now use natural voice commands in Outlook to:
- Draft emails
- Schedule meetings
- Find previous conversations
It’s like having your own personal assistant, and honestly, it’s weirdly satisfying to say, “Schedule a meeting with Sarah for Friday afternoon” and watch it just… happen.
3. Copilot in PowerPoint – Slide Rehearsal Assistant
I absolutely love this one. If you do any presenting, Copilot now gives you feedback on your pacing, filler words, slide timing, and even tone suggestions as you rehearse.
You basically get a rehearsal buddy who never judges you and only wants to help you sound better. As someone who speaks often, this is the kind of intelligent coaching I didn’t know I needed. To take advantage of this, I started with speaker coach, which isn’t specifically Copilot but leveraged that feedback within Copilot and BAM, presentation perfection (sort of haha).
4. Data Insights in Excel – Ask Follow-Up Questions
We’ve been able to ask Copilot questions in Excel for a while now, but the new update takes it further. You can now ask follow-up questions in a conversational thread.
This means I can say, “What’s the trend in Q4 sales?” and then follow it up with, “How does that compare to Q3?” or “What region led in revenue?” without needing to start over each time. It’s intuitive and feels like having a mini data analyst at your fingertips.
5. Teams Copilot – Dynamic Meeting Roles & Auto-Summarization by Department
This one’s perfect for cross-functional meetings. Copilot can now identify participants’ roles and tailor summaries for each department. So the marketing folks get the branding highlights, finance gets budget notes, and operations gets the next steps.
No more wading through pages of generic summaries. Everyone gets what they need, fast.
Final Thoughts
I say this a lot, but Microsoft Copilot keeps getting smarter — and more useful. The latest updates show that Microsoft is listening to how we work and building features that genuinely make a difference.
So if you haven’t checked out what’s new, open up your apps, give these features a try, and let them surprise you. And if you discover a killer way to use one of these tools, send it my way — I’m always up for a good hack.
AI Agent & Copilot Summit NA is an AI-first event to define the opportunities, impact, and outcomes possible with Microsoft Copilot for mid-market & enterprise companies. Register now to attend AI Agent & Copilot Summit in San Diego, CA from March 17-19, 2026.
