Microsoft’s Copilot interface is undergoing yet another transformation, marking what appears to be its sixth update. As reported by Windows Latest, the latest iteration shifts the chat history to a new sidebar panel on the left side, a departure from the previous design where the history button was a pop-up adjacent to the text box.
In September 2024, a significant redesign of Copilot was introduced, drawing inspiration from Pi AI, a company co-founded by Mustafa Suleyman, who now leads Microsoft’s AI initiatives. This earlier version eliminated the left sidebar, opting instead for a pop-up window to access chat history.
The previous design allowed users to tap a history button, which would then display the chat history in a pop-up window above the chatbox. While this setup was functional, Microsoft’s internal analytics indicated a preference for having chat history visible by default on the left side, facilitating easier navigation between past conversations and new chats.
New Copilot interface is now rolling out
This week, users will start to see the refreshed Copilot interface, which reintroduces the history panel and bears a resemblance to ChatGPT. Notably, the new design features similar icons for the “expand” and “new conversation” buttons as those found in ChatGPT.
In this updated layout, users can collapse the history panel to maximize the chat window’s space, enhancing the overall user experience. Additionally, Copilot introduces a “Discover” button, which enables users to delve into various topics and access “Copilot Daily,” an AI-driven podcast that summarizes the day’s significant news stories. This feature allows users to explore the full range of Copilot’s capabilities, from discovering new recipes to managing personal finances.
Copilot’s Quick and Think Deeper, more modes coming?
Microsoft is enhancing user comprehension of Copilot’s functionalities by introducing distinct operational modes. Previously, users could toggle a “Think Deeper” option, leveraging ChatGPT’s advanced reasoning capabilities. Now, users can select between two modes: Quick and Think Deeper.
The Quick mode delivers responses in two to three seconds, ideal for casual conversations, while the Think Deeper mode takes approximately 30 seconds, catering to more complex inquiries. Importantly, the Think Deeper mode is unlimited, allowing for extensive use, contrasting with ChatGPT’s model, which restricts users to 50 chats per day under a monthly subscription.
While the current offerings are limited to Quick and Think Deeper, there are indications that Microsoft is exploring additional modes for future updates, promising an evolving landscape for Copilot users.
