The spotlight is now on Copilot, and this includes its integration with Bing. Microsoft announced the rebranding of Bing Chat, its AI-powered chatbot introduced on Bing earlier this year, to Copilot in Bing at Microsoft Ignite 2023. Simultaneously, the corporate-focused iteration, previously named Bing Chat Enterprise, has also undergone a name change to Copilot.
Despite concerns about potential confusion with the numerous products now carrying the Copilot brand, Microsoft asserts that the renaming is aimed at unifying the Copilot experience for both consumer and commercial users. According to Caitlin Roulston, Microsoft’s Director of Communications, this aligns with their vision.
However, there may be another motivation behind these name changes. Bing Chat may not have made a significant impact on Bing, prompting Microsoft to detach the technology from the search engine that introduced it. A StatCounter report from August indicated that Bing failed to gain market share from Google six months after the launch of Bing Chat, a claim disputed by Microsoft.
The changes extend beyond mere nomenclature. Starting December 1, users logging into Bing with a corporate account, specifically a Microsoft Entra ID, will enjoy “commercial data protection” when using Copilot in Bing. This implies that their data will not be stored or utilized for AI model training, and Microsoft will not have access to it.
Caitlin Roulston emphasized that Copilot’s commercial terms and conditions will be updated on December 1 to mark its official availability as a Microsoft product. Additionally, Copilot’s commercial data protection will eventually be extended to more Entra ID users over time, at no extra charge.
Copilot is now accessible on Windows, Copilot.Microsoft.com, and Bing. It is included in various Microsoft enterprise subscription plans, such as Microsoft 365 E, E5, Business Premium, and Business Standard, at no additional cost. Starting December 1, Copilot will be part of Microsoft 365 F3. For other customers, it will be available separately for $5 per month.
