Microsoft Unveils New Copilot Features for Windows 11

Just a week after announcing updates to its suite of Copilot AI–powered products, Microsoft has launched new Copilot capabilities for all Windows 11 users. These enhancements aim to transform Copilot into a "digital friend,”  integrating AI more deeply into everyday tasks and adding voice and vision capabilities. 

The new voice interaction feature allows users to issue commands and receive natural language responses, while the vision component helps analyze images, screenshots, and other visual content on-screen. Copilot will also provide motivational feedback to enhance productivity and morale. Basic features are free, but more advanced options—such as Copilot Vision and Think Deeper—are available to Copilot Pro subscribers, who will enjoy a more “agentic” version that can "act on their behalf." 

Initial reactions to Copilot the Companion skew positive, with users marveling at the technology's ability to engage in conversation while browsing the internet. Some reviews compare its capabilities to OpenAI's Advanced Voice Mode or Google Gemini. Microsoft is likely hoping to break through the trust issues that consumers have had surrounding AI in the past by asserting that Copilot Vision deletes data  after each conversation. 

Why it matters: The changes to Microsoft Copilot could significantly reshape the broader AI landscape by setting new standards for AI functionality in everyday software. This move is likely to push competitors to develop more intuitive, user-friendly AI solutions. Meanwhile, all eyes are on OpenAI already as it transitions to a for-profit model, raising questions about the future of AI innovation and marketing. Overall, the updates align with a growing industry trend to make AI tools not only more intelligent but also more human-like in their interactions, potentially shifting public opinion in favor of AI.  

Other news and trends 

• Verizon outage. Well over 150,000 users on Downdetector began flagging issues with their Verizon cell service Monday morning, with several across Reddit and X echoing their complaints. The telecommunications company confirmed their awareness of the outage and that they were making efforts to resolve it, but after several hours, frustrated consumers' replies were less-than-understanding as several people expressed their concerns about such a massive outage occurring nationwide to begin with. By Monday evening at approximately 8 p.m. EST, Verizon announced that its engineers had formally resolved the outage, though the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is separately investigating the occurrence. 

• Trending on Substack: Fashion. In a recent survey of New York–based subscribers, Feed Me's Emily Sundberg assessed fashion and consumption habits heading into the fall season. Approximately 21% of readers stated they would not be shopping this fall due to inflation and economic concerns, as rising prices influence spending habits and many prioritize essential purchases like groceries. Some readers are also choosing to save more or reduce unnecessary expenses, focusing on financial stability amid economic uncertainty. The shift reflects broader consumer trends as inflation continues to impact household budgets—one we have already seen with rise of thrifting and underconsumption across social media—and Sundberg suggests her subscribers' discretionary spending will bleed into upcoming holiday shopping. 

• Reddit sacks protests. When Reddit updated its API pricing last year, resulting in the shutdown of some apps and communities, thousands of users initiated a protest of the platform by setting their subreddits to private. The move certainly made a strong statement, although the company was displeased with users' behavior in reaction to the news (lest we forget how the blackouts impacted the nature of Google search results). Now, Reddit wants to prevent such collective acts from transpiring in the future, announcing that as of today, all Reddit moderators will need to fill out a request form to switch their subreddits from public to private, in addition to a separate form for changes from "safe for work" to "not safe for work." 

• Trending on TikTok: Crumbl gate. Word on the street is that Crumbl Cookies magically made its way to the distant shores of Sydney, Australia, causing quite the stir in the past couple of days. A group of fans launched a "Crumbl Sydney" pop-up store, claiming to sell cookies directly imported from Crumbl. They reportedly spent thousands of dollars to travel to the U.S., buying hundreds of cookies, and bringing them back to Sydney. Videos from the opening made their way onto people's feeds in America as people reacted to the egregious price of $17.50 per (stale) cookie and the questionable legality of purchasing and reselling imported goods. In response to the online discussion, the group put out a statement claiming it had not violated any laws and simply did this out of love for the brand. They have since deleted all videos from their profile, and the founder of the official Crumbl Cookies replied to one review simply stating no affiliation with the pop-up. 

Contributors: Head of Social Content and Engagement Strategy Cristina Lawrence, Senior Vice President Jerry Lawrence, Group Vice President Andrew McKernan, and Senior Vice President Tammy Pepito. At Razorfish, we help brands define their higher purpose—the emotional reason why they belong in people’s lives. Ready to find your purpose? Learn more here.