Microsoft has unveiled a public preview of Copilot in its corporate communication platform, Viva Engage. Originally known as Yammer and renamed in 2023, Viva Engage serves as a private social network for businesses, facilitating communication among employees.
The addition of Copilot introduces AI-powered writing assistance to the platform. Employees can now leverage the service to craft posts on Viva Engage, enhancing their ability to express thoughts and engage with colleagues. According to a Microsoft blog post, Copilot aids in writing and editing posts, offering suggestions and prompts tailored to creating compelling content.
Enhancing Employee Interaction and Campaigns
The AI service in Viva Engage does not only support content creation but also recommends special employee campaigns set up by employers. These campaigns, tailored to individual interests, are designed to foster participation and involvement within the corporate social network. Viva Engage is designed to help employees connect, collaborate, and share knowledge. It includes features such as threaded conversations, live events, and video calling.
Availability and Future Plans
As of its announcement, the Copilot public preview is accessible to premium Viva Engage customers, including those subscribed to the Viva Suite and to Microsoft's Employee Communications and Communities (C&C) services. Microsoft has yet to announce a general availability date for Copilot in Viva Engage and indicates that pricing and licensing may undergo changes post-preview.
Furthermore, Microsoft has disclosed the introduction of Copilot Pro, a more advanced AI feature set offered at $20 per month. In a move to broaden accessibility, Microsoft also confirmed Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now available to businesses of all sizes.
