Summary
Classic Outlook for Windows will add user-initiated Copilot insights, allowing users to highlight email text and get contextual AI-generated explanations. Rolling out from May to September 2026, this feature is on by default for eligible Microsoft 365 Copilot users and integrates directly without extra add-ins.
Details
Updated August 7, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
[Introduction]
We're introducing User Initiated Insights in Copilot for classic Outlook for Windows, enabling users to manually select text within an email and prompt Copilot to provide contextual insights. This enhancement gives users greater control over when and how Copilot assists them, improving productivity, clarity, and decision-making directly within their workflow.
This message is associated with Roadmap ID 508524.
[When this will happen:]
- Public Preview (Worldwide): We began rolling out in early May 2026 and expect to complete by late May 2026.
- General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in early September 2026 (previously early June) and expect to complete by end of September 2026 (previously late June).
[How this affects your organization:]
Who is affected:
- Users with Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities
- Organizations using classic Outlook for Windows
What will happen:
- Users will be able to highlight text in emails and invoke Copilot to generate insights.
- Functionality is built into the Outlook experience and does not require a separate add-in.
- The feature will be on by default for eligible users.
- Existing Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and data protection policies continue to apply.
Screenshot: When text is highlighted in an email, an Explain This button appears to provide additional context:
[What you can do to prepare:]
- If you do not want users to access this feature, remove or restrict Copilot capabilities.
- Verify users are running the latest version of classic Outlook for Windows.
- Inform helpdesk and support staff about this new Copilot interaction model.
- Communicate to users how to select text and invoke Copilot for contextual insights.
Learn more:
- How do I enable or disable Microsoft Copilot on MS 365 Premium | Microsoft Learn
- Instructions to turn off Copilot | Microsoft Support
[Compliance considerations:]
| Compliance area | Explanation |
| Introduces AI/ML capabilities interacting with customer data. | The feature enables Copilot to process user-selected email content to generate insights. |
| Provides a new way for users to interact with generative AI. | Users can invoke Copilot directly by selecting text within emails. |
| Allows users to enable or disable the feature at use time. | Users control invocation by choosing when to select text and engage Copilot. |
Change History
August 8, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Updated
Title
Previous
Classic Outlook for Windows: User-initiated insights with Copilot
New
(Updated) Classic Outlook for Windows: User-initiated insights with Copilot
Summary
Previous
Classic Outlook for Windows will add User Initiated Insights with Copilot, letting users highlight email text to get contextual AI-generated insights. Rolling out May-June 2026, the feature is on by default for eligible users, integrates into Outlook without add-ins, and follows existing Microsoft 365 security policies.
New
Classic Outlook for Windows will add user-initiated Copilot insights, allowing users to highlight email text and get contextual AI-generated explanations. Rolling out from May to September 2026, this feature is on by default for eligible Microsoft 365 Copilot users and integrates directly without extra add-ins.
Last Updated Date
Previous
2026-05-15T23:14:18.087Z
New
2026-08-07T22:17:23.540Z
Tags
Previous
New feature,User impact
New
Updated message,New feature,User impact
Body Content
Previous
<p><b>[Introduction]</b></p><p>We're introducing <b>User Initiated Insights in Copilot for classic Outlook for Windows</b>, enabling users to manually select text within an email and prompt Copilot to provide contextual insights. This enhancement gives users greater control over when and how Copilot assists them, improving productivity, clarity, and decision-making directly within their workflow.</p><p>This message is associated with Roadmap ID <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=508524" target="_blank">508524</a>.</p>
<p><b>[When this will happen:]</b>
</p><ul>
<li>Public Preview (Worldwide): We began rolling out in <b>early May 2026</b> and expect to complete by<b> late May 2026</b>.</li>
<li>General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in <b>early June 2026</b> and expect to complete by <b>late June 2026</b>.</li>
</ul><p></p>
<p><b>[How this affects your organization:]</b></p>
<p><b>Who is affected:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Users with <b>Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities</b></li>
<li>Organizations using <b>classic Outlook for Windows</b></li>
</ul>
<p><b>What will happen:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Users will be able to highlight text in emails and invoke Copilot to generate insights.</li><p>Screenshot: <i>When text is highlighted in an email, an <b>Explain This</b> button appears to provide additional context:</i></p><p><img src="https://cxcs.microsoft.net/file/ccp/en-us/a4fb5205-707c-4ead-ac1c-bd52b5c54af2" style="width: 400px;" alt="Email message with text highlighted and a button that says, 'Explain this.'"></p>
<li>Functionality is built into the Outlook experience and does not require a separate add-in.</li>
<li>The feature will be <b style="">on by default for eligible users</b>.</li>
<li>Existing Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and data protection policies continue to apply.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>[What you can do to prepare:]</b></p>
<ul>
<li>If you do not want users to access this feature, remove or restrict Copilot capabilities.</li><li>Verify users are running the latest version of classic Outlook for Windows.</li><li>Inform helpdesk and support staff about this new Copilot interaction model.</li><li>Communicate to users how to select text and invoke Copilot for contextual insights.</li></ul><p><b>Learn more:</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/questions/5791778/how-do-i-enable-or-disable-microsoft-copilot-on-ms" target="_blank">How do I enable or disable Microsoft Copilot on MS 365 Premium | Microsoft Learn</a></li><li><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/office/turn-off-copilot-in-microsoft-365-apps-bc7e530b-152d-4123-8e78-edc06f8b85f1#:~:text=If%20you%20don't%20see,Close%20and%20restart%20the%20app." target="_blank">Instructions to turn off Copilot | Microsoft Support</a></li></ul><p><b>[Compliance considerations:]</b></p><table class="table table-bordered"><tbody><tr><td><b>Compliance area</b></td><td><b>Explanation</b></td></tr><tr><td>Introduces AI/ML capabilities interacting with customer data.</td><td>The feature enables Copilot to process user-selected email content to generate insights.</td></tr><tr><td>Provides a new way for users to interact with generative AI.</td><td>Users can invoke Copilot directly by selecting text within emails.</td></tr><tr><td>Allows users to enable or disable the feature at use time.</td><td>Users control invocation by choosing when to select text and engage Copilot.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><ul>
</ul>
New
<p>Updated August 7, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience. </p><p><b>[Introduction]</b></p><p>We're introducing <b>User Initiated Insights in Copilot for classic Outlook for Windows</b>, enabling users to manually select text within an email and prompt Copilot to provide contextual insights. This enhancement gives users greater control over when and how Copilot assists them, improving productivity, clarity, and decision-making directly within their workflow.</p><p>This message is associated with Roadmap ID <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=&searchterms=508524" target="_blank">508524</a>.</p>
<p><b>[When this will happen:]</b>
</p><ul>
<li>Public Preview (Worldwide): We began rolling out in <b>early May 2026</b> and expect to complete by<b> late May 2026</b>.</li>
<li>General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in <b>early September 2026</b> (previously early June) and expect to complete by <b>end of September 2026</b> (previously late June).</li>
</ul><p></p>
<p><b>[How this affects your organization:]</b></p>
<p><b>Who is affected:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Users with <b>Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities</b></li>
<li>Organizations using <b>classic Outlook for Windows</b></li>
</ul>
<p><b>What will happen:</b></p>
<ul>
<li>Users will be able to highlight text in emails and invoke Copilot to generate insights.</li><p>Screenshot: <i>When text is highlighted in an email, an <b>Explain This</b> button appears to provide additional context:</i></p><p><img src="https://cxcs.microsoft.net/file/ccp/en-us/a4fb5205-707c-4ead-ac1c-bd52b5c54af2" style="width: 400px;" alt="Email message with text highlighted and a button that says, 'Explain this.'"></p>
<li>Functionality is built into the Outlook experience and does not require a separate add-in.</li>
<li>The feature will be <b style="">on by default for eligible users</b>.</li>
<li>Existing Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and data protection policies continue to apply.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>[What you can do to prepare:]</b></p>
<ul>
<li>If you do not want users to access this feature, remove or restrict Copilot capabilities.</li><li>Verify users are running the latest version of classic Outlook for Windows.</li><li>Inform helpdesk and support staff about this new Copilot interaction model.</li><li>Communicate to users how to select text and invoke Copilot for contextual insights.</li></ul><p><b>Learn more:</b></p><ul><li><a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/questions/5791778/how-do-i-enable-or-disable-microsoft-copilot-on-ms" target="_blank">How do I enable or disable Microsoft Copilot on MS 365 Premium | Microsoft Learn</a></li><li><a href="https://support.microsoft.com/office/turn-off-copilot-in-microsoft-365-apps-bc7e530b-152d-4123-8e78-edc06f8b85f1#:~:text=If%20you%20don't%20see,Close%20and%20restart%20the%20app." target="_blank">Instructions to turn off Copilot | Microsoft Support</a></li></ul><p><b>[Compliance considerations:]</b></p><table class="table table-bordered"><tbody><tr><td><b>Compliance area</b></td><td><b>Explanation</b></td></tr><tr><td>Introduces AI/ML capabilities interacting with customer data.</td><td>The feature enables Copilot to process user-selected email content to generate insights.</td></tr><tr><td>Provides a new way for users to interact with generative AI.</td><td>Users can invoke Copilot directly by selecting text within emails.</td></tr><tr><td>Allows users to enable or disable the feature at use time.</td><td>Users control invocation by choosing when to select text and engage Copilot.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><ul>
</ul>
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