Microsoft limits free Copilot Chat but does not tell the limits

On 2 November, Microsoft started to add limits to more features of Copilot Chat. The limits are for business users who have Microsoft 365 but not a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Microsoft did not tell which features or which limits. Companies with more than 2,000 seats get the change on 9 November, and the others got it first.

What is new

Copilot Chat was free for these users in plans such as Business Standard and Microsoft 365 E3. Microsoft put limits on some features before, for example on image tools.

A user who gets to a limit sees a notice that tells when access goes back. Administrators cannot see, set or change the limits.

The proof

There are no test results and no numbers for the limits. Pareekh Jain tells that the limits can cut work output and push staff to other tools. Manoj Chandra Jha tells that budgets are not easy to set.

What is not known

Microsoft did not tell which features or which thresholds. Jha tells that the European Commission could look at the change. It examined Microsoft before for the join of Teams to Microsoft 365. Jha also tells that a limit is not always a break of competition rules.

Insight: Free Copilot reads as a trial that leads to a paid seat

In July, Microsoft had 30 million seats with a Copilot license. A poll found that only 18% of workers want Copilot when ChatGPT is also available. Limits with no values on the free tier read as a method to turn use into seats with a license. Microsoft controls the channel to the customers. Until Microsoft gives the values, you cannot set a budget for the free tier.