Microsoft has released new Defender Security and Purview Compliance add-ons for organizations with Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses. At the same time, the Viva license with Glint has been removed.
Microsoft is expanding Copilot Standard access with new generative AI features. Users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license can now create and edit posters, banners, infographics, and images in the Create experience, though access depends on service capacity.
Microsoft will retire the Editor extensions for Edge and Chrome. Writing assistance is being consolidated into Microsoft Edge’s built-in proofing, offering AI-powered grammar, spelling, and style checks without the need for separate extensions.
Microsoft is updating the Copilot setting in Teams meetings. Until now, Copilot started with transcription turned on by default. With the new setting, Copilot will start without transcription, and organizers must enable transcription manually if they need it for post-meeting insights.
Microsoft Teams is replacing the old Meeting options with a new Organizer Controls icon in the meeting toolbar, giving organizers and co-organizers quicker access to meeting settings and Teams Premium features.
Starting at the end of January 2026, Microsoft 365 Apps must be updated to version 16.0.18827.20202 or later to continue using Read Aloud, Dictation, and Transcription. Devices running older versions will lose access to these features.
Microsoft is updating Outlook’s event scheduling with a cleaner event form and new Copilot-powered enhancements. Licensed Copilot users will benefit from agenda drafting and meeting preparation features, while Meeting Insights will be retired for those without a Copilot license.
Microsoft is rolling out the new Places Management web portal, giving administrators a centralized and visual way to manage buildings, floors, rooms, desk pools, and desks. The portal reduces reliance on PowerShell.
Microsoft has unified the desk booking experience in Places. Reservations now work consistently across Outlook, the Teams calendar, the Places web app, and the Places Teams app.
Microsoft Places now supports multiple desk modes so workplaces can tailor desk availability: Unavailable (not bookable), Assigned (reserved for a specific user), Reservable (bookable in advance), Drop-in (bookable only in person).
