According to Digital Trends, Microsoft is rolling out a suite of new features for its Copilot AI assistant on the web and in apps. The updates include a new advanced memory mode that can retain user preferences and details across conversations, moving beyond treating each chat as a reset. Users also get pinned conversations to keep important threads at the top and support for much longer prompts, handling up to 10,240 characters or more for dumping large documents. Furthermore, the Copilot experience on macOS is getting a significant upgrade to close feature gaps, and a new widget is coming to iPhone for quicker access. Microsoft notes these features are rolling out gradually, with the advanced memory feature launching first in the United States.
Copilot Gets a Brain
Okay, so the memory thing is a big deal. Right now, most AI chats, including Copilot, have the memory of a goldfish. You tell it something in one prompt, and three prompts later, it’s like you never said it. This “advanced memory” mode is Microsoft’s attempt to fix that. It’s basically trying to make Copilot feel less like a tool and more like an assistant that actually knows you. The key detail, though, is the control. They’re giving users clear settings to review and manage what gets saved. And that’s smart. Because do you really want an AI remembering *everything*? Probably not. This feels like a direct response to how users have been interacting with more persistent AI models elsewhere.
The Practical Productivity Push
Beyond memory, the other features are all about cutting out tiny bits of daily friction. Pinned chats? That’s a no-brainer quality-of-life win anyone who uses AI for ongoing projects will appreciate. No more scrolling to find your “vacation planning” or “weekly report” thread. The boost to 10,240-character inputs is huge for practical work. You can finally paste a full meeting transcript or a messy first draft and just say, “Summarize this,” or “Rewrite this to be more professional.” It acknowledges that real work involves big, messy documents. The ability to convert a long paste into a file is a clever touch, too. It keeps the chat clean while preserving your source material. These aren’t flashy features, but they’re the kind that actually get used every day.
Microsoft’s Apple Play
Here’s the thing: the upgrades for macOS and iPhone might be the sleeper hit of this announcement. For a long time, using Microsoft’s tools on Apple platforms often meant a second-class experience. By specifically calling out a “refreshed” macOS app with better export features and a new iPhone widget, Microsoft is signaling it’s serious about being a cross-platform AI. They don’t want Mac users feeling like they need to jump to a web browser or, worse, a competitor’s app, to get the full experience. The iPhone widget is especially interesting—it’s a direct play for quick, habitual use. This isn’t just about improving Copilot; it’s about making sure Microsoft’s AI is wherever you are, which is a crucial strategic move.
The Gradual AI Arms Race
So what’s the real story here? It’s another volley in the slow, grinding AI feature war. Microsoft is methodically patching the obvious weaknesses in its consumer AI product: lack of memory, poor chat organization, input limits, and platform gaps. They’re not announcing some wild new generative video model; they’re doing the hard, boring work of making an existing product stickier and more useful. The regional rollout, starting in the US, is classic Microsoft. They’ll test and tune before a global launch. If you’re waiting for these features, your best bet is to just keep checking for app updates. But the direction is clear: Copilot is trying to evolve from a fancy chatbot into a persistent, personalized productivity layer. And honestly, that’s where the real battle for your daily workflow is going to be fought.
