Satya Nadella: Microsoft Copilot Hits 20M Paid Seats, Usage Surges

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has revealed that the company's Copilot AI tool is experiencing robust growth in usage and adoption, countering perceptions of limited uptake. Speaking during Microsoft's quarterly earnings call, Nadella announced that Microsoft 365 Copilot now serves 20 million paid enterprise seats.

Large-Scale Deployments on the Rise

Nadella noted a significant increase in large-scale deployments. The number of companies using more than 50,000 Copilot seats has quadrupled. Major firms such as Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Mercedes-Benz, and Roche each utilize over 90,000 seats. He also highlighted a landmark deal with Accenture for more than 740,000 seats, describing it as "our largest Copilot win to date."

Usage and Engagement Levels Soar

Addressing concerns about actual usage, Nadella reported that engagement levels are climbing. "Copilot queries per user were up nearly 20% quarter over quarter. To put this momentum in perspective, weekly engagement is now at the same level as Outlook," he said. "This is like a daily habit of intense usage." Microsoft indicated that users are interacting with Copilot as frequently as they use email.

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Multi-Model Support and Agent Mode

Nadella emphasized that Copilot is not tied to a single AI model. "You now have access in chat to multiple models by default, with intelligent auto routing in agents with critique and counsel; you can use multiple models together to generate optimal responses," he explained. Microsoft 365 Copilot supports models such as Anthropic's Claude alongside other systems.

The company's "agent mode" is also driving adoption. This feature enables Copilot to complete multi-step tasks directly within applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. "As of last week, Agent mode is now the default experience across Copilot and Word, Excel, and PowerPoint," Nadella said. "You now have a new way to delegate and complete work using Copilot." Microsoft stated that the feature allows users to automate tasks and workflows inside documents, expanding how AI is integrated into daily work.