Microsoft lets admins slow Copilot feature rollouts in 365
Microsoft has begun rolling out a new change management system for Microsoft 365 Copilot features. It introduces audience-based release channels: Frontier for early testers, Standard for most, and Deferred for those wanting to wait. Admins can now choose the pace to match their organisation's readiness. The update includes a restructured Message Center for clearer announcements and AI-powered insights through the MRC Model Context Protocol. This initial phase focuses solely on Copilot, with potential expansion later. IT teams must monitor the center to stay ahead of shifts.
Microsoft 365 updates used to land everywhere at once, often breaking familiar workflows like email rules or Teams setups without notice. Knowledge workers spent hours adapting to UI shifts amid inbox overload and notification noise, with no say in timing. Admins now control Copilot's arrival via tiered channels, creating pockets of stability. This curbs the flood of AI experiments, letting teams triage existing tools like tasks and meetings first. It marks a rare concession to user fatigue over innovation speed.
Analysis
Copilot sounds shiny but it will just amplify your task overwhelm and context switching until basics are locked down. Demand your admin switches to the Deferred channel via the Message Center today – reclaim those 60 minutes daily before AI piles on more chaos.
Pulse published by Collab365 Spaces. Cite as "Microsoft lets admins slow Copilot feature rollouts in 365", Collab365 Spaces.