Microsoft 365 Copilot: Customize Copilot for your organization with Copilot Tuning – public preview [MC1222551]

Message ID: MC1222551

[Introduction]

Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning is introducing new templates in Agent Builder designed for tasks such as drafting complex documents, validating documents against organizational guidelines, and editing to match a distinct writing style. Users with Copilot Tuning enabled can further customize the template-based agents by tuning the context, tools, and underlying models with their organization’s proprietary data, processes, and standards. This empowers your teams with customized agents aligned to how your organization works.

[When this will happen]

Public preview (Worldwide): We will begin rolling out in mid‑February 2026 and expect to complete by late March 2026.

[How this affects your organization]

Who is affected:

• All Microsoft 365 tenants with Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses.
• Agent tuning is available to organizations with 5,000 or more Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses.

What will happen:

• New agent templates will become available in Agent Builder for all users licensed for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• Users can immediately use these templates to build agents for common Microsoft 365 tasks.
• Organizations with 5,000+ Copilot licenses can tune agents by adjusting:
  • Context
  • Tools
  • Models

Data handling, privacy, and residency

• Copilot Tuning creates a snapshot of user‑selected SharePoint content solely for tuning the agent.
• Snapshots are stored in a tenant‑isolated Microsoft 365 environment and are used only within the Copilot Tuning service.
• DLP policies applied to the source SharePoint content do not apply to the snapshot.
• During public preview:
  • Snapshot data is retained while the tuned agent remains active.
  • Snapshot data is deleted when the tuned agent is deleted.
  • Data used for tuning may be retained for up to two years unless deleted earlier.
• Copilot Tuning does not change Microsoft 365 data commitments; all data remains within the Microsoft 365 service boundary under existing Microsoft 365 Copilot privacy and security commitments.
• Snapshot metadata may be requested through Microsoft Customer Support.
• Snapshots are not automatically updated; if underlying SharePoint content changes, agents must be retrained.

Regional processing

• During public preview:
  • EU tenant traffic remains within the EU Data Boundary.
  • Global tenant traffic may be processed in other regions for large language model operations.
  • Microsoft personnel do not access customer data unless explicitly requested by the customer and approved through Customer Lockbox.

Advanced Data Residency (ADR)

• Copilot Tuning is not enabled by default for tenants with ADR during public preview.
• ADR customers may opt in by formally waiving ADR requirements through their Microsoft account team.
• If waived, snapshot data is stored in the nearest macro region in a tenant‑isolated Microsoft 365 environment and governed by existing Microsoft 365 Copilot data protection commitments.

[What you can do to prepare:]

No enrollment action is required; organizations are automatically enrolled.

Admins can:

• Manage and restrict access to Copilot Tuning in the Microsoft Admin Center by navigating to: Copilot > Settings > Copilot Tuning
• Scope tuning access to specific users or groups or disable it entirely.
• Review internal data governance, privacy, and regulatory requirements before enabling tuning.
• Communicate the new capability to internal support teams if needed.
• Update internal documentation as appropriate.

Learn more: (video, 45 minutes): Customized AI that understands your business with Copilot Tuning | Microsoft Ignite 

[Compliance considerations]

Question	Answer
Does the change store new customer data, if so, where, and is the data cached or permanently stored?	Yes. Copilot Tuning stores new snapshot copies of user‑selected SharePoint content in a tenant‑isolated Microsoft 365 environment. Snapshot data is retained while the tuned agent is active and may be retained for up to two years unless deleted earlier.
Does the change alter how existing customer data is processed, stored, or accessed?	Yes. Copilot Tuning creates snapshot copies of SharePoint content that are not governed by DLP policies applied to the original data. Snapshots are used exclusively within the Copilot Tuning service and must be manually retrained if underlying content changes.
Does the change introduce or significantly modify AI/ML or agent capabilities that interact with or provide access to customer data?	Yes. The feature introduces new template-based agents in Agent Builder and allows organizations to tune agent context, tools, and models using proprietary data.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?	Yes. Users can build and customize template-based agents in Agent Builder and tune them with organizational data through Copilot Tuning.
Does the change modify, interrupt, or disable any Purview capabilities (such as DLP, sensitivity labels, retention, or encryption)?	Yes. DLP policies applied to the source SharePoint content do not apply to the snapshot data used for tuning, which is a functional deviation administrators should be aware of.
Does the change modify how users can access, export, delete, or correct their personal data (GDPR Data Subject Rights)?	Yes. Snapshot metadata may be requested through Microsoft Customer Support, and snapshot data is not automatically updated when underlying content changes, which may require retraining.
Does the change include an admin control, and can it be controlled through Entra ID group membership?	Yes. Copilot Tuning can be enabled, disabled, or scoped to specific users or groups in the Microsoft admin center, including support for Entra ID group scoping.

Source: Microsoft

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