If you use the free Microsoft Copilot app, three features you may rely on are going away on August 18, 2026. Microsoft is merging its consumer Copilot app with the work-focused Microsoft 365 Copilot into one unified app, and as part of that merger it's cutting Group Chat, Podcasts, and free Deep Research from the free version.
Group Chat becomes 1:1 only. If you've been using Copilot in a group conversation with other people, that group format disappears on August 18. Microsoft says existing group chats will be turned into individual chats, so your own messages stay visible in your history — but anything other participants shared or created inside the group, like their prompts or generated images, will no longer be accessible to you. If there's something from a group chat you want to keep, save it before the 18th.
Podcasts are shutting down completely. Copilot's feature for turning documents or web pages into an AI-generated audio "podcast" is being removed, not just changed. After August 18 you won't be able to create new ones or open ones you already made, and any links you shared to a Copilot podcast will stop working. You can still download individual podcasts from your podcast library before the deadline — look for the download option in the podcast's menu.
Free Deep Research is being replaced by a paid tool. Deep Research — the feature that builds a longer, cited report on a topic you ask about — is being retired for free users. Reports you already generated stay accessible and can still be exported to Word. But generating anything new this way will require Microsoft 365 Premium, a paid subscription (currently $19.99/month in the US) that includes a similar tool called Researcher. If you relied on free Deep Research for things like comparing products or planning a trip, that option ends on the 18th unless you upgrade.
What to do before August 18. Download any podcasts you want to keep, export or save any Deep Research reports you still need, and copy anything important from a group chat that only exists in another participant's messages. None of this requires you to do anything with your account settings — it's a one-time cleanup before the changeover.
If you're new to Copilot on Windows, our guide to Microsoft Copilot on Windows 11 covers the basics that aren't affected by this change, and too many AI subscriptions? can help you decide whether a paid Microsoft 365 Premium plan is worth it for your own use.
Sources
- Updates to Copilot and the Microsoft Copilot app — Microsoft Support
- Microsoft kills off unsuccessful AI features while merging its separate Copilot apps — TechCrunch
- Microsoft is retiring Copilot Deep Research and Podcasts — Thurrott.com