Microsoft Copilot wird zur Super-App: Home, Code und Autopilot im Überblick
Key takeaways
- Home brings chat and cowork together in one place and integrates Word, Excel, and PowerPoint directly into Copilot.
- Code allows you to build your own apps, dashboards, and automations using natural language, based on the same technology as GitHub Copilot.
- Autopilot is an always-on agent that independently follows up on tasks, even when no one is currently logged in.
- The rollout is being phased through Microsoft's Frontier program; there are no fixed dates for general availability yet.
- Agent features like Autopilot, Code, and Cowork are not billed at a flat rate, but are charged based on usage via Copilot Credits, which requires companies to manage their own cost control.
On September 25, 2026, Microsoft unveiled a fundamental realignment of Copilot. Instead of a single chat assistant, a unified interface is emerging, built on three pillars: Home, Code, and Autopilot. For companies already using or currently evaluating Microsoft 365 Copilot, it is worth taking a closer look at the details, even though the rollout is still in its early stages.
Three pillars instead of a chat window
Home replaces the previous entry point and consolidates chat and task delegation via Cowork. Since Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files can be created and edited directly within Copilot and remain automatically synchronized with the classic Office applications, Copilot is becoming more of a central workspace rather than just an auxiliary tool.
Code is aimed at anyone who wants to build their own solutions without programming knowledge, from simple trackers to small internal tools. The underlying technology comes directly from GitHub Copilot, with applications running in an isolated environment within the user's own tenant.
Finally, Autopilot goes beyond traditional automation: users give the agent a name, a role, and a goal, after which it monitors channels, responds to conversations, or independently carries out projects across Teams, Outlook, and documents, all within the tenant's permission and audit structure.
To ensure that Copilot provides not just general answers but understands the actual business context, Microsoft is simultaneously expanding the data foundation: Fabric IQ integrates semantic models from Power BI, among other things; Work IQ adds information from business processes; and a new plugin registry makes existing enterprise applications usable for Copilot. This expansion is directly relevant to the Code function, as custom-built tools are only as good as the data they can access.
Rollout is staggered, dates remain vague
Home and Code are initially launching via Microsoft's Frontier program for selected licensees; according to Microsoft, broader availability is not expected until "the coming weeks." Autopilot is still in private preview. Microsoft has not yet provided a firm date for the general availability of any of the three pillars.
Billing is particularly relevant for internal planning: agent-heavy functions such as Autopilot, Code, and Cowork are billed via usage-based Copilot Credits rather than the previous flat-rate Pro license. Anyone wishing to test these functions should establish an expenditure policy and a usage limit in advance, rather than letting consumption run unchecked.
What companies can do now
A company-wide transition is neither possible nor necessary at this time, as most functions are still in preview phases. Nevertheless, it makes sense to set the course now:
- Clarify Frontier membership: Those in your organization already participating in the Frontier program will be the first to see Home and Code and can gain experience early on.
- Define a test group, instead of letting the new functions appear uncoordinated throughout the entire company.
- Define an expenditure policy for Copilot Credits, before Code or Autopilot are actively used, as these functions are billed based on usage rather than a flat rate.
- Prepare governance for Autopilot: Permissions, logging, and approval processes should be in place before a permanently active agent accesses Teams, Outlook, or documents.
How much companies actually benefit from Copilot depends less on the technology itself than on its implementation within their own operations; crucial Success factors we have already addressed this elsewhere. Anyone already working with Microsoft 365 Copilot should keep these fundamentals in mind, even as the interface for Home, Code, and Autopilot undergoes visible changes in the coming months.
Microsoft videos for context
Microsoft has accompanied the announcement with short explanatory videos that provide a good first impression of the new interface:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the new Copilot already available to all Microsoft 365 customers?
No. Home and Code will initially be available only to organizations in the Frontier program, with broader availability to follow in the coming weeks, according to Microsoft. Autopilot will remain in private preview for the time being.
Do the new features automatically result in additional costs?
Chat and existing Microsoft 365 Copilot usage remain licensed as before. In contrast, Code, Cowork, and Autopilot are subject to usage-based billing via Copilot Credits, which is why implementing internal cost controls is advisable once these features are actively in use.
Should companies be taking action now?
If you already have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, you can check whether your organization is registered for the Frontier program and coordinate internally to decide who should test the new features first. A company-wide rollout is not yet required at this stage.
Is Code the same as Copilot Studio?
No. Copilot Studio is designed for the targeted development and management of chatbots and agents for specific use cases. Code is built to be more accessible, allowing non-technical staff to create simple apps, dashboards, or automations directly within Copilot using natural language.
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