Users of Microsoft Office are expressing dissatisfaction with the company’s recent decision to rebrand its popular software suite. The software bundle, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, was initially introduced by Bill Gates’ company in 1990 and has amassed a large user base of 400 million globally.
Recently, users were surprised to encounter a message informing them of the new name change. The notification stated, “Welcome to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.” This app, formerly known as Office, offers users the ability to create, share, and collaborate within a single platform, now featuring Copilot integration.
Introduced in 2023 as a replacement for Cortana, Copilot is an AI chatbot designed to enhance user productivity by automating tasks and generating content.
In response to the rebranding, software creator Peter Dedene criticized the move, lamenting the shift from MS Office to “Microsoft 365 Copilot.” Other users also expressed frustration, likening the renaming to a loss of brand recognition and questioning the decision-making process behind the change.
Microsoft clarified the rationale behind the rebranding, emphasizing the integration of Copilot within the Microsoft 365 app to enhance productivity across work and personal tasks.
Gareth Oystryk, Senior Director of Marketing at Microsoft 365, addressed the criticism, affirming that core Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint remain unchanged within the Microsoft 365 suite. The renaming of the Office “hub” app to Microsoft 365 and subsequently to Microsoft 365 Copilot was specifically to highlight the integration of Copilot features.
Microsoft advised existing users to ensure they are connected to the internet and restart the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to see the changes reflected across web, mobile, and Windows platforms.