Microsoft Office users have expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s recent rebranding move that altered the name of its renowned software suite. Initially launched by Bill Gates’ global corporation in 1990, the package, encompassing Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, has amassed a substantial user base of 400 million worldwide.
Recently, users were surprised by a notification stating the software had been rebranded. The message introduced the “Microsoft 365 Copilot app,” emphasizing its capability to facilitate creation, sharing, and collaboration across various applications, including Copilot.
Copilot, introduced in 2023 as a successor to Cortana, is an AI chatbot designed to aid users in enhancing productivity by automating tasks and generating content.
In response to the rebranding, software creator Peter Dedene criticized the change, lamenting the shift from MS Office to “Microsoft 365 Copilot.” Another individual expressed dismay, comparing the renaming to Twitter becoming X, and questioned the decision-making process behind it.
Another critic highlighted the rebranding’s impact on the brand’s recognition, noting that the shift to ‘Microsoft 365’ in 2020 was the initial step towards brand dilution, irrespective of the AI integration.
Despite the backlash, Microsoft explained that the rebranding aimed to integrate Copilot within the Microsoft 365 app, enhancing productivity for users across work and personal accounts.
Gareth Oystryk, Microsoft 365’s Senior Director of Marketing, clarified that the core Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint within the Microsoft 365 suite remained unchanged, with only the Office “hub” app transitioning to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to unify Copilot and Microsoft 365 experiences.
Microsoft advised users to ensure they are connected to the internet and restart the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to activate the changes on their web, mobile, and Windows platforms.