MC1515927 - Microsoft 365 Copilot: Critique and Council preview experiences will retire

Microsoft 365 Message Center announcement MC1515927.

MS Message Center's Summary

Microsoft is retiring the Critique and Council preview experiences within the Researcher component of Microsoft 365 Copilot between late October and mid November 2026. Administrators should update internal training materials and notify the service desk prior to the retirement date. Core Researcher and Analyst functions remain fully available.

Administrator impact
Internal guidance and support documentation referencing Critique and Council must be updated before the retirement window.
End user impact
Users will lose access to the Critique and Council preview features in Researcher while core Researcher tools remain available.
Importance
3/10: The change involves the retirement of preview features affecting a subset of users requiring minor administrative preparation.

Microsoft Summary

Microsoft 365 Copilot's Critique and Council preview experiences in Researcher will retire between late October and mid-November 2026. These features will no longer be accessible, but Researcher and Analyst remain available. Organizations should inform users, update guidance, and notify help desks accordingly. No compliance issues noted.

Message Center ID
MC1515927
Category
plan For Change
Severity
normal
Services
Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365)
Tags
User impact, Retirement
Published
2026-10-19
Last updated
2026-10-19
Expires
2026-12-14
Action required by
2026-11-14

[What and Why:] Critique and Council were introduced as preview experiences in Researcher through the Frontier program, giving customers an opportunity to explore early capabilities and share feedback. As we conclude this preview, Critique and Council will be retired. The insights from this preview will help inform how we evolve these concepts and explore opportunities to bring similar value into broader Microsoft 365 Copilot experiences in the future. [Rollout Schedule:] General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin retiring Critique and Council in late October 2026 and expect to complete by mid-November 2026. [Impact on Your Organization:] Who is affected: Eligible Microsoft 365 Copilot users who are part of the Frontier program and currently have access to Critique or Council in Researcher. Platforms/Services: Microsoft 365 Copilot Researcher Frontier program preview experiences What will happen: Critique and Council preview experiences will be retired from Researcher. After retirement, users will no longer be able to access Critique or Council in Researcher. Researcher and Analyst are not being retired and will remain available to eligible users. [Action Required/Recommendations:] Inform affected Frontier program users that Critique and Council preview experiences will be retired. Update internal guidance, training, or support materials that reference Critique or Council. Inform your help desk before the retirement takes effect. [Compliance considerations:] No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.