According to Neowin, Microsoft is rolling out major updates across Outlook, Teams, Edge and Copilot throughout 2026. Outlook for Windows and web gets folder-specific email rules in January 2026, a feature users have demanded since 2022. Teams will introduce AI agent “Trust Score” capabilities for IT admins in February 2026 to evaluate bot compliance. Edge is renaming Efficiency mode to Energy Saver and PC gaming mode to PC gaming boost in January 2026. Copilot gains shared file summary distribution in File Explorer and OneDrive Activity Center, also launching January 2026. Meanwhile, Outlook mobile gets “Up Next” meeting notifications with Copilot assistance starting next month.
Finally, some Outlook sanity
Look, Outlook users have been begging for folder-specific rules since 2022. Basically, the current system treats your entire mailbox like one giant bucket, which is incredibly frustrating when you want different automation for different projects or clients. The fact that it’s taken Microsoft until 2026 to deliver this feels… typical. But honestly, this could actually improve the new Outlook’s reputation, which has been pretty rough since launch. Here’s the thing: when basic productivity features take years to implement, it makes you wonder about priorities.
AI agents getting report cards
Now this Teams AI trust scoring is genuinely interesting. With AI bots popping up everywhere in enterprise environments, IT admins are basically playing whack-a-mole trying to keep everything compliant. An automated trust score system could actually save companies significant time and headaches. But February 2026? That feels like forever in AI time. By then, we’ll probably have AI agents managing other AI agents. Still, it’s smart positioning from Microsoft – they’re acknowledging the compliance nightmare that AI creates and offering a solution.
Edge’s naming shuffle
So Microsoft is renaming Efficiency mode to Energy Saver and the gaming version to PC gaming boost. Honestly, the original names were confusing – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to explain what Efficiency mode actually does. The new names are clearer, but is this really what Microsoft is focusing on for 2026? It feels like rearranging deck chairs when there are bigger usability issues to address. Then again, sometimes simple naming changes can dramatically improve adoption, so maybe this will help more people actually use these power-saving features.
Copilot’s subtle expansion
The Copilot file summary feature is exactly the kind of practical AI integration that actually helps productivity. Instead of just generating content, it’s making sharing and collaboration smarter. But January 2026 is a long wait for what seems like a relatively straightforward enhancement. Microsoft’s gradual Copilot rollout continues to be methodical, probably because they’re being careful not to overwhelm users or create another Clippy situation. The real question is whether these incremental improvements will be enough to justify Copilot’s premium pricing as competitors catch up.
