Summary
Microsoft 365 Copilot’s Critique and Council preview experiences in Researcher will retire between late October and mid-November 2026. These features will no longer be accessible, but Researcher and Analyst remain available. Organizations should inform users, update guidance, and notify help desks accordingly. No compliance issues noted.
Message ID: MC1515927
Published: Oct 19, 2026
Service: Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365)
Tag: User impact, Retirement
Act by Nov 14, 2026
Microsoft Message
Critique and Council were introduced as preview experiences in Researcher through the Frontier program, giving customers an opportunity to explore early capabilities and share feedback.
As we conclude this preview, Critique and Council will be retired. The insights from this preview will help inform how we evolve these concepts and explore opportunities to bring similar value into broader Microsoft 365 Copilot experiences in the future.
Rollout Schedule
General Availability (Worldwide): We will begin retiring Critique and Council in late October 2026 and expect to complete by mid-November 2026.
Impact on Your Organization
Who is affected
Eligible Microsoft 365 Copilot users who are part of the Frontier program and currently have access to Critique or Council in Researcher.
Platforms/Services
- Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Researcher
- Frontier program preview experiences
What will happen
- Critique and Council preview experiences will be retired from Researcher.
- After retirement, users will no longer be able to access Critique or Council in Researcher.
- Researcher and Analyst are not being retired and will remain available to eligible users.
Action Required/Recommendations
- Inform affected Frontier program users that Critique and Council preview experiences will be retired.
- Update internal guidance, training, or support materials that reference Critique or Council.
- Inform your help desk before the retirement takes effect.
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.