MC1184408 – M365 Change Digest

One-line summary

Agent mode in Excel, enabling AI-powered workbook editing and web search via Copilot, will be generally available by default to eligible users starting early December 2025.

Similar updates

Details

Summary

Agent mode in Excel, formerly part of the Frontier program, will be generally available worldwide from December 2025 to February 2026. It enables AI-assisted workbook editing with web search integration, supports Excel features, requires no admin changes, and is accessible via M365 Copilot Chat for licensed users.

Body (from Message Center)

[Introduction]

Agent mode in Excel, previously available through the Frontier program, will soon be generally available. This feature enables users to build and edit workbooks side by side with Copilot, streamlining tasks like updating budgets, creating financial models, and analyzing data. Agent mode can search the web to pull in trusted, up-to-date information from the internet to complement your Excel data. It helps answer questions, provide context, and enrich your analysis without leaving your workbook. It leverages Excel’s most powerful tools—tables, charts, PivotTables, and formulas—making it easier to complete complex tasks with AI-powered assistance.

[When this will happen:]

General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout will begin in early December 2025 and is expected to complete by late February 2026.

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected: All Microsoft 365 users licensed for Copilot who use Excel.
What will happen:
- Users will be able to access Agent mode in Excel from M365 Copilot Chat by selecting it from the Tools menu.
- Agent mode will be available by default for eligible users.
- The feature includes support for Excel capabilities such as editing tables, charts, PivotTables, formulas, and more.
- No changes to existing admin policies are required.
- Some geographies may receive access later in the rollout window.

[What you can do to prepare:]

No admin action is required.
Agent mode respects your Admin Center data access settings for Copilot web search.
You may wish to:
- Inform helpdesk and support teams about the availability of Agent mode.
- Update internal documentation or training materials to reflect this new capability.
Agent mode in Excel is a method for using M365 Copilot Chat to interact with your active workbook and is not a Microsoft 365 Copilot agent that needs to be managed from the Admin Center.

Learn more: Agent mode in Excel (Frontier)

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.

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      "Summary": "Agent mode in Excel, formerly part of the Frontier program, will be generally available worldwide from December 2025 to February 2026. It enables AI-assisted workbook editing with web search integration, supports Excel features, requires no admin changes, and is accessible via M365 Copilot Chat for licensed users."
    },
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