Agent update
Copilot in Outlook (email and calendar)
Copilot in Outlook, updated on 9 Mar 2026, can now draft and refine emails in place, help triage your inbox, and take on calendar work such as RSVPs and scheduling, in a more agent-like way than a one-off draft.
How to use Copilot in Outlook for small business
A practice manager can ask Copilot to draft a confirmation email from a meeting, then change the tone and formatting in the message itself, without copying text back from a chat pane. A consultant can set custom instructions so Copilot accepts meetings from a key client during work hours and declines generic invites, while still telling you what it has done. A bookkeeper can ask Copilot Chat to find a time with two clients, show how each option sits on the calendar, and book a review once you confirm.
In-place drafting began rolling out on 9 Mar 2026 in modern Outlook for Windows, web and mobile. Preference-based RSVPs are available in modern Outlook on Windows, Mac, web and mobile. Scheduling from Copilot Chat is available in English across Microsoft 365 Copilot and Outlook endpoints. End-to-end sending from Copilot Chat began rolling out to Frontier on 9 Mar 2026. The post does not confirm classic Outlook, a cheaper Copilot licence, a price, or country availability.
Most useful for: Executive Assistant – Manage the executive's inbox, flag what matters, draft replies and file the rest, Office Manager – Handle incoming mail and documents, Administrative Assistant – Sort and respond to the shared inbox
Frequently asked questions
Which plan do I need, and does it work in classic Outlook?
The post is written for Microsoft 365 Copilot and the modern Outlook experience. It does not say the features are included with the no-cost Copilot that comes with a standard Microsoft 365 licence, and it does not confirm classic Outlook. A later comment on the same page asked that question, and the article itself does not answer it.
Will Copilot send an email or accept a meeting without me checking?
In Outlook, Copilot writes and updates the draft in the canvas so you can refine it before you send. In Copilot Chat, end-to-end send began as a Frontier rollout. For the calendar, Copilot can RSVP from custom instructions you set, and it keeps you informed as things change. Scheduling from Chat shows time options on your calendar so you can confirm the one that works.
What can Copilot now do in Outlook beyond a one-off draft?
It can draft and refine emails in place in the message itself, help with inbox work, and take on calendar tasks such as preference-based RSVPs and scheduling from Copilot Chat. In-place drafting began rolling out on 9 Mar 2026 in modern Outlook for Windows, web and mobile. Scheduling from Copilot Chat is available in English.