MC1519122: Microsoft Copilot Adds Usage-Based Billing Models and Reasoning Effort Control in Chat, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

5 minutes
MWPRO IMPACT SCORE
OPERATIONAL IMPACT
66
0 25 50 75 100
HIGH IMPACT • REVIEW RECOMMENDED
Recommended Action:
Review the update and plan any required actions before rollout.
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Primary Audience

Tenant AdminsMicrosoft 365 AdminsIT ManagersService OwnersSecurity TeamsCompliance Teams
Why this score?
AI Confidence
HIGH
Enough detail is available to trust this assessment.
Assessment Reasoning
The rollout timeline for usage-based billing models in Copilot Chat and integrated Office apps has been moved from November to December. Admins must enable UBB, allocate credits and review governance controls, which requires licensing and billing configuration. End users will gain access to new model options once enabled, mildly affecting experience. Urgency remains moderate as rollout planning and preparation are active but not immediate.
75
🛡️ Admin Impact
CRITICAL
55
👥 User Impact
HIGH
60
⚡ Urgency
HIGH
65
🔧 Effort
HIGH
ℹ️ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
📌

AT A GLANCE

Usage-based billing (UBB) models such as GPT‑6 Astra and Claude Fable 5.1 are rolling out in Copilot Chat, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Access depends on UBB being enabled for licensed users.
👥

END USERS

Users with UBB enabled may see new model choices and can set reasoning effort levels in Copilot Chat.
🛡️

IT ADMINS

Check which users should have UBB access, enable billing, allocate credits, and communicate how to request more credits.
📅

ROLLOUT TIMELINE

Upcoming:
December 2026

📢 Official Microsoft Message Center Announcement

(Updated) Microsoft Copilot: UBB models in Chat and Word, Excel, and PowerPoint via the model selector
Message ID: MC1519122 (Updated)

Updated November 4, 2026: We have updated the rollout schedule below. Additionally, users will be able to set the reasoning effort level when using a UBB model in Chat.

[What and why]

As previously announced in MC1479276, we are rolling out usage-based billing (UBB) models to provide users access to advanced AI in Copilot. These models will be available from Chat in the Microsoft Copilot app and when using Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Users will not have access to UBB models unless UBB is enabled. We plan to rollout the ability for users to request credits from their tenant admins after this initial rollout.

GPT-6 Astra and Claude Fable 5.1 will be generally available as UBB models with this rollout. Previously communicated eligibility requirements for these models apply.

21925

[Rollout schedule]

  • Frontier (Public): Beginning early November 2026 and expected to complete by mid-November 2026
  • General Availability (Worldwide): Beginning in early December 2026 (previously early November) and expected to complete by mid-December 2026 (previously mid-November)

[Impact on your organization]

Who is affected

  • Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot user subscription license (USL) with UBB enabled
  • Tenant admins responsible for enabling usage-based billing and allocating credits

Platforms and services

  • Microsoft Copilot
  • Copilot Chat
  • Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
  • Agent 365 cost management (Microsoft 365 admin center)

What will happen

  • After rollout, users will be able to access UBB models in the Chat model selector in the Copilot app and when using Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint if UBB is enabled.
  • After the initial rollout, we plan to roll out the ability for users to request additional credits from their tenant admin.
  • Users will not have access to UBB models unless UBB is enabled.

[Action required and recommendations]

To provide users with access to UBB models:

  • Verify that users have a Microsoft 365 Copilot user subscription license (USL).
  • Enable UBB for users who should have access to the models.
  • Allocate credits to users who should have access to the models.
  • Review your organization’s governance requirements, usage expectations, and anticipated credit consumption before allocating credits.
  • Communicate your organization’s process for requesting additional credits when allocated credits are consumed.
  • Review the applicable Microsoft documentation for usage-based billing and credit management before deployment.

Learn more

 

[Compliance considerations]

QuestionAnswer
Does the change introduce or significantly modify AI/ML or agent capabilities that interact with or provide access to customer data?Yes. Users can access UBB models through Copilot Chat and Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These models process user prompts and Microsoft 365 data available through Copilot according to existing permissions and configuration.
Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI?Yes. If UBB is for a user and they are allocated credits, users will be able to select and interact with UBB models through Copilot Chat and Copilot in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Does the change include an admin control and, can it be controlled through Entra ID group membership?Yes. Admins control access through usage-based billing and credit allocation. The submitted information does not specify whether access can be scoped through Entra ID group membership.

Source: Microsoft Message Center • Analysed by MWPro

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