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Microsoft unveils 'OS for work' Copilot overhaul with Home, Code and Autopilot

Microsoft has revealed a major redesign of its business-facing Copilot tools, which CEO Satya Nadella describes as a 'new OS for work.' The suite includes Home, which can draft and edit Office files; Code, which builds apps from natural-language prompts using GitHub Copilot's engine; and Autopilot, a rebrand of Scout that autonomously handles tasks like scheduling and follow-ups across Teams, Outlook and other apps. Home and Code enter Microsoft's Frontier testing program in coming weeks, with Autopilot reaching private preview by month's end.

Some Xbox users claim free GTA 6 pre-orders via Microsoft Rewards points

Reddit users have reported redeeming Microsoft Rewards and Xbox Mastercard points to pre-order Grand Theft Auto 6 at no extra cost. One user, Financial_Specific24, used points earned from Xbox Mastercard purchases, while another, Automatic_Ad1665, accumulated Microsoft Rewards through routine daily tasks. GTA 6's Standard Edition costs $80 and the Ultimate Edition $100.

Microsoft halts KB5002907 update after it deactivated perpetual Office licenses

Microsoft has paused rollout of KB5002907, an update meant for outdated Microsoft 365 Apps installations, after users reported it deactivated or removed perpetual Office 2016 and Office 2019 installs. Belgian MSP owner Christian Van Hautte said five unrelated clients contacted him within about ten minutes on September 24, with dozens of PCs showing an 'Unlicensed Product' error. He found that re-entering original product keys restored activation, and said the update installed automatically despite being labeled optional.

Microsoft's 'Copilot+ PC' label fades from new Surface and OEM devices

Windows Central reports that Microsoft and its hardware partners have quietly stopped using the 'Copilot+ PC' branding introduced in 2024. None of the Surface PCs launched in 2026 carry the moniker in their names, unlike earlier models, and Nvidia's upcoming RTX Spark platform—despite meeting the spec requirements—also avoids the label. The underlying technical requirements for Copilot+ PC hardware still exist, but the marketing name is increasingly absent from spec sheets and product listings.

King signs collective bargaining deal with Swedish unions, avoids strike

Microsoft-owned King has agreed to a collective bargaining agreement covering its Swedish staff, signed with Unionen and Engineers of Sweden just a day before a planned strike. The deal, effective April 1, 2027, follows negotiations that began in May 2025 after King removed a private doctor benefit in 2024, prompting employees to unionize.

Microsoft drops 'Copilot+ PC' branding from new Surface devices

Microsoft's newly announced Surface Pro (2nd Edition) and Surface Laptop (2nd Edition) meet all technical specs for the Copilot+ PC label but aren't marketed under that name, according to Surface VP Brett Ostrum. Both machines use Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus chips with an 80 TOPS NPU, well above the 40 TOPS threshold Microsoft originally set for the category. Microsoft's Copilot+ PC marketing page has also been quietly replaced with one for 'performance PCs.'

Microsoft merges consumer and enterprise Copilot into one app, adds Code, Autopilot tabs

Microsoft has rolled out a unified Copilot client that replaces its previously fragmented consumer and business apps, following a mobile-first rollout last month. The new release adds Code and Autopilot tabs and is described by Copilot Executive VP Jacob Andreou as faster and more capable than earlier versions. Microsoft says its pricing model for the app is still 'evolving,' with usage-based billing planned for some key features.

Microsoft merges Copilot tools into single app with usage-based pricing

Microsoft launched an updated Copilot app on Friday that combines coding and productivity features previously split between 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot, organized into Cowork, Code and Autopilot components. Instead of the standard $30-per-user monthly subscription, customers will pay based on usage, echoing pricing models used by rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. Fewer than 7% of Microsoft's 450 million-plus commercial Office 365 seats currently hold Copilot AI licenses.

Microsoft splits Copilot into Home, Code and Autopilot sections

Microsoft is overhauling Copilot with a redesigned structure divided into three areas: Home for organizing meetings, documents, emails and agents; Code for building apps and vibe coding; and Autopilot, a rebranded version of Scout that acts as a semi-autonomous digital teammate. The update rolls out first through Microsoft's Frontier Program for businesses and individual subscribers, with a new Copilot Managed Runtime letting enterprises host generated code within their own Microsoft 365 environment.

Microsoft adds tabbed interface and Office integration to Copilot app

Microsoft is redesigning its standalone Copilot app with three new tabs: 'Home' for chats and task routing, 'Code' for building apps and dashboards from natural-language descriptions, and 'Autopilot' for agentic automation of recurring tasks. The app will also gain direct integration with Office applications, according to Jared Spataro, Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer of AI at Work.

New Jersey fines DataOne data center $1.07M for 62 unpermitted generators

New Jersey regulators fined the DataOne data center in Vineland $1.07 million after inspectors found 62 unpermitted portable generators running at the site in late July, giving the operator 45 days to shut them down or seek proper permits. The facility, which supplies compute for Nebius under a $33 billion deal with Microsoft, has drawn prior resident complaints over an unpermitted LNG tank, noise, and lack of public consultation.

Microsoft and Qualcomm quietly drop 'Copilot+ PC' branding from new devices

Microsoft and Qualcomm confirmed at the Snapdragon 2026 Summit that they will no longer market new Surface and Snapdragon-powered PCs as 'Copilot+' devices, even though the underlying AI features remain unchanged. Surface VP Brett Ostrum and Qualcomm's Kedar Kondap both told Windows Central the companies still emphasize AI capabilities, just without the Copilot+ label that debuted with Arm-based Windows PCs in 2024.