Microsoft 365 Copilot gets a speed boost and cleaner design | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Microsoft 365 Copilot gets a speed boost and cleaner designNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsMicrosoft 365 Copilot gets a speed boost and cleaner designThe productivity-focused assistant will provide more ‘structured’ responses.The productivity-focused assistant will provide more ‘structured’ responses.by Emma RothCloseEmma RothNews WriterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma RothMay 28, 2026, 8:14 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: MicrosoftEmma RothCloseEmma RothPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.Microsoft is launching a revamped version of Microsoft 365 Copilot, offering a cleaner design that the company claims loads twice as fast. As part of this update, Copilot will provide more reliable and structured responses that are easier to scan, according to Microsoft.The redesign, which is rolling out across desktop and mobile devices, comes with a feature Microsoft calls “progressive disclosure.” That means Copilot will present you with tools and controls based on your prompt, instead of showing a bunch of options at once. You can now format your text directly inside Copilot’s upgraded prompt box as well, which will expand to fit everything you type or paste in.RelatedMicrosoft launches “vibe working” in Word, Excel, and PowerPointGoogle similarly launched a big design update for its Gemini AI app last week, allowing the chatbot to structure its responses based on your prompt.Inside Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot opens within a side panel, where it can answer questions, or suggest and make changes to your document. 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Microsoft is launching a revamped version of Microsoft 365 Copilot, focusing on both a cleaner design and enhanced functionality. This update is designed to improve user experience by making the assistant provide more reliable and structured responses that are significantly easier to scan, according to Microsoft. The redesign, which is implemented across both desktop and mobile environments, incorporates a feature known as progressive disclosure. This design philosophy dictates that Copilot will present tools and controls dynamically based on the user’s prompt, rather than displaying an exhaustive set of options simultaneously. Furthermore, users gain the ability to format text directly within Copilot’s upgraded prompt box, allowing the input area to expand to accommodate all typed or pasted content.

The integration of Copilot within the Microsoft 365 suite is designed to be deeply embedded, operating primarily within a side panel. From this location, users can utilize Copilot to pose questions, obtain suggestions, or request modifications to their documents. The functionality extends beyond simple querying; users can initiate a chat window directly from within specific elements of their work, such as a paragraph, a spreadsheet cell, or a presentation slide.

This focus on structured output is part of a broader industry trend, as exemplified by Google’s recent design update for its Gemini AI application. Google similarly implemented a major design overhaul for its Gemini AI app, enabling the chatbot to structure its responses based on user prompts. This parallel development suggests an industry shift toward making large language model interactions more organized and actionable. The overall aim of the Microsoft update is to boost productivity through an interface that is both visually refined and functionally structured, promising performance gains, as the new version is claimed to load twice as fast.