Ready to see how AI is transforming the way you work? At Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft 365 Copilot Search and Connectors took center stage - ushering in a new era of productivity and intelligent search.
Let’s dive into these key highlights and what they mean for the future of productivity and intelligent search.
Smarter Search, Instant Action
When we first announced Microsoft 365 Copilot Search in April of 2025, we recognized a fundamental shift in how people interact with information. Traditional search was limited to simply retrieving information, but we saw the opportunity to create an experience that seamlessly blended the act of finding with the act of doing.
Our vision was to make search not just about locating files or answers, but about enabling users to take immediate action, collaborate, and solve problems right from their search results.
While search remains a critical part of finding information, it’s evolving to deliver a springboard to doing real work.
At Microsoft Ignite, we shared the latest innovation on delivering on our vision – from new sources to help you find what matters most, to deeper integration with chat to help you ground and synthesize information more effectively.
Spend less time hunting for the right information.
At Ignite we introduced AI Views, which are a new way to surface relevant information instantly within Copilot Search. AI Views provide concise, actionable snapshots of key entities, such as documents, people, meetings, or insights, directly in your search results. This means you can quickly review important details at a glance, without needing to open multiple windows or dig through layers of information.
Find more, do more.
Building on AI Views, chat integration takes productivity to the next level. Soon, Copilot Search will allow you to seamlessly transition from finding to doing through deeper integration with chat. This integration will allow you to move beyond traditional information retrieval to taking immediate, meaningful action. Simply search for what you’re looking for, and then right from within search, pass your query, its context, and any related results directly to chat without switching apps.
New sources, new ways to discover.
In addition to faster ways to understand and work with your search results, we also announced new sources, like your interactions with Copilot, calendar events, email attachments and more. These improvements help you find what matters when it matters.
By bridging the gap between finding information and acting on it, Copilot Search serves as a catalyst for enhanced productivity and smarter decision-making in everyday workflows.
Check out all the announcements from Microsoft Ignite at this on demand recording.
Connectors - Bridging Your Data
Copilot works best when it understands all your information. That’s where Copilot Connectors come in. These connectors extend search to your line-of-business data, whether it’s in the cloud, on-premises, or in department-specific apps making it easier for IT admins and business users to integrate systems for richer workflows and search results.
At Ignite, we announced new and updated connectors that are easier to deploy, more secure, and customizable to fit your organization’s needs.
Want to dive deeper? Check out the latest on the Copilot blog.
Smarter, Sharper, and More Connected - Copilot Bizchat & Copilot Search | Microsoft Community Hub
Scale with Ease: Simplified Setup and Management for Connectors | Microsoft Community Hub
Personalization with Federated Connectors
In addition to our traditional Copilot Connectors that sync data between the source and Microsoft 365, we’re excited to announce a new class of MCP servers that allow individuals and teams to securely bring in their own data sources in Researcher, extending its reach beyond organizational silos.
With these connectors, users can connect to popular or department-specific apps in real-time, all while maintaining your compliance and security standards. This opens up new possibilities for personalization and productivity, as Copilot can now access and reason over a broader spectrum of data tailored to each user’s unique needs in a new way.
Enroll now in the MCP preview to experience personalized data integration at https://aka.ms/MCPCC.
What’s Next?
This wave of innovation signals an exciting future for creating an organizing layer for AI. With smarter search, more robust connectors, and the flexibility of MCP, you are better equipped to harness the power of AI for daily work.
To keep up to date as these features roll out and start transforming the way we find, connect, and collaborate across the digital workplace bookmark our roadmap here.
Want to learn more or get started?
Stay tuned as Copilot Search and Copilot connectors continue to evolve, shaping the future of intelligent work.
Microsoft