Microsoft is introducing features such as task delegation, in-place editing of Office documents, and interactive reports to Copilot Notebooks, driving its evolution from an AI information organization tool to a smart workspace for executing tasks. According to the update information released by Microsoft in October 2026, these new features are being rolled out in phases through the Frontier Preview Program.

Copilot Notebooks support integrating documents, emails, and meeting notes, and can answer questions, generate study guides, and create audio summaries based on relevant information. After this update, users can delegate tasks to Copilot and set up periodic automation processes such as daily briefings and weekly status reports. For example, project managers can regularly generate progress reports using project files and meeting records, reducing manual organization efforts.

QQ20261012-140525.jpg

In terms of document processing, users can now open and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files directly within notebooks without switching to the corresponding Office applications. The new interactive report feature supports elements such as visual charts and filters, helping users explore and analyze underlying data.

Microsoft has also expanded the content sources for audio summaries, adding support for Teams conversations and Outlook emails, and introduced "Comment" and "Debate" modes to help users understand notebook content from different perspectives. Additionally, Copilot can recommend suitable documents and presentations to generate based on existing materials, and users can choose between models provided by OpenAI and Anthropic.

Compared to Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM), which mainly focuses on information retrieval and knowledge understanding, Microsoft is trying to extend Copilot Notebooks to content editing, periodic task automation, and interactive data analysis, further strengthening its integration with the Microsoft 365 office ecosystem.