M365 Changelog: (Updated) Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft Teams: Improved time-based responses in chat and channels

MC801583 – Updated June 28, 2024: Microsoft has updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.

Coming soon to Microsoft Teams: Improvements to how Copilot in Teams understands and responds to time-related queries in chat and channels. With this rollout, Copilot will provide more precise and relevant responses to prompts such as “yesterday,” “last week,” and “last month.” A Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 license is required to use this feature.

This message applies to Copilot in Teams chat and channels on Desktop, Mac, and the web in new Teams, as well as Teams Mobile (iOS and Android).

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 397768.

When this will happen:

Targeted Release: Microsoft will begin rolling out early August 2024 (previously early July) and expects to complete by mid-August 2024 (previously mid-July).

General Availability (Worldwide): Microsoft will begin rolling out mid-August 2024 (previously mid-July) and expects to complete by late August 2024 (previously late July).

How this will affect your organization:

Before this rollout, when users asked Copilot about a long time period (such as “Summarize the key action items from March”), Copilot was limited to the last 30 days of data (left side of screenshot). After the rollout, Copilot will be able to detect and respond to the specified time period (such as March). Microsoft has also simplified the timestamp (right side of screenshot):

The default state is on, and all Copilot licensed users will have access to the improved feature.

What you need to do to prepare:

This rollout will happen automatically by the specified dates with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation as appropriate.

Before rollout, Microsoft will update this post with revised documentation.