Users of Microsoft Office have expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s recent rebranding of its popular software suite. The suite, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, was initially introduced by Bill Gates’ global corporation in 1990 and has amassed a substantial user base of 400 million worldwide.
Recently, users were surprised by a notification informing them of the new name. The message welcomed them to the “Microsoft 365 Copilot app,” formerly known as Office, enabling them to create, share, and collaborate seamlessly with their preferred applications, now including Copilot.
Introduced in 2023 as a replacement for Cortana, Copilot is an AI chatbot designed to enhance user productivity by automating tasks and generating content.
Upon learning of the rebranding, software creator and entrepreneur Peter Dedene criticized the move, lamenting the transition from MS Office to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Another individual expressed frustration, likening the renaming to a hypothetical scenario where Twitter is rebranded as X, emphasizing the iconic status of Microsoft Office.
A different perspective was shared by a third person, highlighting that the brand shift actually began in 2020 with the transition to Microsoft 365, independent of the AI integration.
Furthermore, a fourth user commented on the irony of Microsoft concealing its well-established productivity brand behind a new AI label, signaling a shift in perception towards being an AI-centric company.
Microsoft clarified the rationale behind the rebranding, noting the integration of Copilot within the Microsoft 365 app to enhance productivity across various platforms. Gareth Oystryk, Senior Director of Marketing at Microsoft 365, addressed the criticisms, affirming that core Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint remain unchanged within the Microsoft 365 suite.
Users were advised by Microsoft to ensure they are connected to the internet and restart the Microsoft 365 Copilot app if the changes are not immediately visible on their web, mobile, or Windows platforms.