Copilot for OneDrive will fetch your files and summarize them – coming in April

Microsoft has unveiled Copilot for OneDrive, set to launch in late April, in a recent blog post. This new feature will act as a research assistant for users by finding, summarizing, and extracting information from various types of files, including text documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and more. Users can personalize the summaries by specifying key points or highlights they want included.

The development of an AI-enhanced OneDrive has been anticipated since last fall when Microsoft revealed plans for the third generation of its cloud storage service. The company promised that AI technology would facilitate quicker and more efficient file searches while also offering intelligent document summarization and organization. Copilot will enable users to locate specific documents, like tax files, or quickly summarize lengthy presentations.

Copilot for OneDrive will be equipped to understand natural language prompts and answer detailed questions about file contents. Users can request tasks such as tabulating data into tables or listing pros and cons of a project. Moreover, Copilot will assist in document improvement by offering advice. The feature can generate outlines, tables, and lists based on existing files, like creating a sales pitch outline or compiling a table of resumes.

In the upcoming days, OneDrive users will receive a preview of Copilot with the introduction of document summaries for shared files. This early access enables users to include an AI-generated summary of a Word document when sharing, allowing recipients to view it in their email before opening the actual file. Copilot will be accessible via OneDrive web and the file viewer in Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint. The feature will be available for business and school customers with a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license starting in late April.