Microsoft redesigns Copilot around Home, Code and persistent Autopilot

The new Copilot brings conversational assistance, application building and ongoing agent work into one experience. Home and Code are available through Frontier, while Autopilot remains in private preview.

Microsoft redesigns Copilot with Home, Code and Autopilot, introducing a shared workspace for conversational assistance, application building and persistent agent work. Announced on 25 September 2026, the changes bring three different ways of working into the Copilot app, but their release schedules differ: Home and Code are available in Microsoft’s Frontier early-access programme, while Autopilot remains in private preview.

Microsoft’s official announcement describes Home as the starting point for Chat and Cowork. Chat handles questions and drafting; Cowork is designed for delegated, multi-step jobs such as assembling a customer briefing or preparing a financial-close package. The company is also bringing Word, Excel and PowerPoint editing into Copilot so documents can be created or revised without switching applications.

Code turns instructions into apps and automations

Code allows users to describe a tracker, dashboard, application or workflow in ordinary language and have Copilot build it. Microsoft says it uses underlying technology from GitHub Copilot, with work running in a sandbox and organisational context supplied through Microsoft IQ.

The accompanying Copilot Managed Runtime lets organisations host and share generated applications inside their Microsoft 365 environment, subject to IT governance. Microsoft announced the runtime in preview. The company had projected wider Code access after its Frontier introduction, but its current Copilot product page still identifies Code as available in Frontier; that does not establish general availability.

Autopilot keeps working with its own identity

Autopilot, previously called Scout, is a cloud-hosted agent intended to pursue assigned goals without requiring a fresh prompt at each step. Microsoft describes tasks such as coordinating supplier reviews, following up on Teams conversations and handling recurring activity over several days.

Unlike a chat session, the proposed agent has its own identity, memory, workspace and access permissions within the customer’s tenant. Microsoft says its activity is subject to organisational audit and governance. These are product capabilities described by the vendor, not independently demonstrated results across customer deployments.

Rollout and costs remain separate decisions

Microsoft’s current Copilot product page lists Home and Code in Frontier and Autopilot in private preview. The company has not established a general-availability date for all three together.

Microsoft also distinguishes subscription-based everyday Copilot use from usage-based billing for longer-running Cowork, Code and Autopilot work. Its announcement introduced administrative controls to monitor spending and approve AI usage, although actual costs will depend on the work performed and an organisation’s commercial arrangements.