I never use my Microsoft Copilot subscription, but I still think it's worth it.
I analyze the usefulness of my Microsoft 365 subscription, evaluating the advantages of its basic features compared to the growing relevance and cost of Copilot+ features.
Subscriptions are a recurring theme in modern life, especially when it comes to evaluating whether what we pay for is truly worth it. Many people find themselves with streaming services they haven't used in months or gym memberships they haven't visited in a long time. In my case, the question arises with my subscription to Microsoft 365, particularly following the recent price increase due to the new Copilot+ features.
Microsoft 365 is a suite of computing tools that often goes unappreciated until it’s needed. I have allowed Microsoft to withdraw money from my bank account for several years while using only a few applications and functions. My primary use of Microsoft 365 is the read-aloud feature in Word, which I find extremely helpful for catching errors that can be overlooked during a conventional review.
Under the right circumstances, the functionalities of Microsoft 365 can seem magical. Recently, I managed to integrate a signature into a Word document using a photograph of my own handwriting, editing it with text adjustment and transparency features I didn't even know existed. This underscores that mastering the Microsoft suite is a valuable skill that won’t be overshadowed by the advent of artificial intelligence (AI). However, with the arrival of Copilot+, Microsoft has started to promote its productivity suite and hardware partnerships around this AI functionality. Updates on the company’s technological developments are constant.
In my daily routine, it has become easy to separate the AI functions, which are mostly focused on rewriting and paraphrasing. As a journalist, my job depends on writing original content. I originally obtained the Microsoft 365 subscription to assist a family member who was starting college. As those plans changed, I chose to keep the subscription for my own work needs.
As a technology reporter, I look for tools that allow me to disconnect from the new AI features. I've become accustomed to using external applications to access these capabilities, such as the web version of Microsoft Copilot, which allows me to access features like Think Deeper. However, I'm not willing to spend on expensive subscriptions. Although I occasionally revisit Microsoft Designer, it does not require a 365 subscription.
While working in Word, I focus on my tasks and don’t think about using the AI features, such as the Copilot+ button, which I often overlook since I spend most of my time in the review section, where the read-aloud function is located. Although in Google Workspace, the Gemini AI is displayed more prominently, I tend to choose web tools for research and other tasks, such as searching for synonyms. My attempts to use the rewriting tool sometimes don’t turn out as I expected; as a result, I tend to look for alternative words on Google, as this doesn't interrupt my writing flow.
Outside of Microsoft 365, I have a file in Microsoft Notes that contains a mix of links, drafts, and ideas dating back a long time. The Copilot+ updates could be useful, especially the Bing search feature, which would facilitate activating links directly without having to copy them into a browser. Although I don’t use all the functions of Copilot+, I find my Microsoft 365 subscription beneficial, as it provides necessary tools when I need them. However, after the price increase, my goal is to downgrade from a family plan to a personal one, as I don't need to spend $13 a month just for Word to read my own texts.