Finance
Microsoft Unveils AI Upgrades, Rolls Out Copilot Cowork to Early-Access Customers
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 30, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 30, 2026
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Microsoft has launched multi‑model AI enhancements for its Copilot assistant—including the new “Critique” feature combining GPT and Claude models—and opened early access to Copilot Cowork via its Frontier program, signaling deeper agentic AI integration in enterprise workflows.
Microsoft Launches Copilot AI Upgrades and Expands Cowork Access
By Deborah Mary Sophia
Microsoft Unveils New Copilot Features and Expands Access
March 30 (Reuters) - Microsoft on Monday unveiled new features in its Copilot research assistant that would allow users to utilize multiple AI models simultaneously within the same workflow, the latest move by the tech giant to improve its AI offering and boost adoption.
Introduction of Multi-Model Workflow
In a new feature called "Critique", Copilot's Researcher agent will now be able to pull outputs from both OpenAI's GPT and Anthropic's Claude models for every response, rather than relying on a single model.
How the Critique Feature Works
While GPT generates the response, Claude will review the output for accuracy and quality before presenting it to the user, Microsoft said. The company expects to make that workflow bi-directional in the future, allowing GPT to review Claude's drafts as well.
Benefits of Multi-Model Collaboration
"Having various different models from different vendors in Copilot is highly attractive - but we're taking this to the next level, where customers actually get the benefits of the models working together," Nicole Herskowitz, corporate vice president of Microsoft 365 and Copilot, said in an interview with Reuters.
The multi-model approach will help speed up user workflow, keep in check AI hallucinations - where systems generate false information - and produce more reliable outputs, boosting productivity and quality for customers, Herskowitz added.
Introduction of Model Council and Cowork Expansion
Microsoft is also launching 'model Council', a feature that will allow users to compare responses from different AI models side-by-side. The upgrades come as Microsoft makes its new Copilot Cowork agentic AI tool more widely available to members in its 'Frontier' program, which provides customers with early access to some of its latest AI features.
About Copilot Cowork
Microsoft unveiled Copilot Cowork - a tool based on Anthropic's viral Claude Cowork product - in testing mode earlier this month, capitalizing on the growing demand for autonomous AI agents.
Competitive Landscape
The Windows maker has been racing to improve its Copilot assistant to drive better adoption amid intense competition from rivals including Google's Gemini and autonomous agents such as Claude Cowork.
(Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
Key Takeaways
- •‘Critique’ feature enables Copilot’s Researcher to generate responses with GPT and have them reviewed by Anthropic’s Claude for accuracy and quality, with future bidirectional model review planned (additional reliability and efficiency)
- •‘Model Council’ allows users to compare model outputs side‑by‑side, while Copilot now supports multiple AI models in workflows, mitigating hallucinations and improving productivity
- •Copilot Cowork, an agentic tool built with Anthropic’s Claude Cowork, is in research preview for Frontier early‑access customers—capable of executing multi‑step workflows in Microsoft 365 applications under enterprise governance
Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft unveils AI upgrades, rolls out Copilot Cowork to early-access customers
1What new AI features has Microsoft added to Copilot?
Microsoft's Copilot now supports simultaneous use of multiple AI models, including GPT and Claude, and adds a 'Critique' feature for enhanced output review.
2What is the purpose of Copilot's new 'Critique' feature?
The 'Critique' feature allows one AI model to generate a response and another, like Claude, to review it for quality and accuracy before showing it to the user.
3How does the 'model Council' benefit Copilot users?
The 'model Council' lets users compare answers from different AI models side-by-side, helping them choose the best and most accurate result.
4Who can access Copilot Cowork and what does it offer?
Copilot Cowork is being rolled out to Microsoft's 'Frontier' early-access customers and provides an agentic AI tool to boost workflow productivity.
5How is Microsoft addressing AI hallucinations in Copilot?
By integrating multiple models and cross-verification features like 'Critique,' Microsoft aims to minimize AI errors and improve the reliability of Copilot's output.
