Microsoft 365 Copilot has been upgraded with GPT-5.2, adding stronger reasoning and faster outputs to the applications you and your team may already be using to write, analyse, meet and plan.
It’s capable of producing quicker drafts, fewer errors, context-aware insights from your data and deeper integration with Microsoft 365 – without adding more tools to the mix.
What is GPT-5.2 in Microsoft 365 Copilot?
GPT-5.2 is OpenAI’s latest AI model that’s integrated into Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot Studio. It’s the “engine” behind Copilot’s responses – enabling it to understand context, reason through multi-step requests and produce faster outputs.
You can now access it in familiar apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, and use it to support tasks like drafting and rewriting content, analysing spreadsheets, summarising threads and preparing presentations.
Microsoft has positioned GPT-5.2 as purpose-built for workplace productivity, with deeper reasoning for tougher work, and increased speed for day-to-day tasks.
What’s New in GPT-5.2 vs. Earlier GPT Versions?
The upgrade to GPT-5.2 delivers meaningful improvements over earlier models used in Copilot, particularly in how it reasons and handles complex work.
You’ll notice stronger performance in areas like logic-heavy tasks, maths and problem-solving, and technical writing, with fewer off-topic responses or “drift” in longer documents.
It’s also better at working with larger inputs, such as multi-page reports or dense spreadsheets.
Importantly, GPT-5.2 introduces a clearer balance between speed and depth. That is, Instant mode for quick, everyday tasks, and Thinking mode when deeper analysis or structured reasoning is required.
Two Modes Explained: Instant vs. Thinking
Microsoft Copilot’s GPT-5.2 upgrade operates across two complementary modes: Instant and Thinking.
Instant mode prioritises speed – ideal for quick drafting, translations, summaries and everyday Q&As.
Thinking mode, on the other hand, is designed for depth. It can handle multi-step reasoning, longer documents, complex data analysis and strategic planning tasks that benefit from more deliberate processing.
Copilot can automatically choose the best mode for the task. But you can also manually select the model when you need more control.
Contextual Intelligence: Work IQ Integration
What makes GPT-5.2 truly “business-ready” is its integration with Work IQ – the intelligence layer that grounds Copilot in your organisation’s real work.
Instead of responding in isolation, Copilot securely draws context from meetings, emails, documents and shared files to deliver more relevant outputs.
This turns disparate information into structured insights, recommendations and action plans. So, your teams can use these new capabilities to:
- prepare meeting agendas based on recent conversations
- summarise market research across documents
- coordinating tasks that span Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
All without switching between tools or disrupting existing workflows, within your organisation’s existing security boundaries.
Business Benefits for Leaders & Teams
For businesses, the value of GPT-5.2 lies in better everyday outcomes.
Faster routine work
Routine tasks like drafting emails, summarising meetings or preparing documents take less time, freeing teams to focus on more high-value work.
Smarter decision making
Copilot can produce better results and clearer recommendations based on real business data and context.
Better long-form outputs
It can also provide better long-form outputs (e.g. reports, presentations) that require fewer revisions.
Seamless adoption
GPT-5.2 works inside the Microsoft 365 tools your teams already use, without needing to introduce new platforms or disrupt established workflows.
AI Agent Capabilities
Copilot still supports AI agents that can manage workflows behind the scenes – like onboarding, customer follow-ups and other operational processes. Using Microsoft Copilot Studio, your teams can create and manage these agents without coding.
Real-World Use Cases & Sample Prompts
There are a number of ways teams can harness GPT-5.2 in day-to-day work. Instant mode is suitable for fast, lightweight tasks, while Thinking mode supports deeper analysis and planning. Consider the following sample prompts.
Instant mode examples
- “Draft a concise status update for stakeholders based on today’s Teams meeting.”
- “Summarise this email thread into key actions and deadlines.”
- “Draft a helpful response to this customer query.”
Thinking mode examples
- “Analyse this quarter’s sales data and highlight trends and risks.”
- “Compare our product offering to three competitors and outline strategic gaps.”
Rollout & Availability
The GPT-5.2 upgrade is rolling out to organisations with Microsoft 365 Copilot licences from 11 December, with availability expanding more broadly over the coming weeks.
Early-release environments in Copilot Studio will also begin receiving access, allowing teams to test and refine workflows ahead of wider adoption. And Premium Copilot Studio access is expected next year.
For organisations using AI agents, there’s no extra work required – agents currently running on GPT-5.1 will transition automatically to GPT-5.2 as part of the rollout.
Security, Compliance & Control
GPT-5.2 in Microsoft 365 Copilot operates within your organisation’s existing security and compliance boundaries.
Data access, permissions and governance are enforced through Microsoft Purview, ensuring information is only visible to the right people.
Combined with protections from Microsoft Defender, Copilot delivers enterprise-grade AI, without compromising data or tenant controls.
Putting GPT-5.2 to Work
Start exploring GPT-5.2 in Copilot by testing different prompts to explore Instant and Thinking-mode capabilities. Encourage your teams to share feedback to refine how it’s used day to day.
Get support optimising Copilot and your Microsoft 365 environment. Learn more about Inspired IT’s Office 365 Services or get in touch to book a consultation.
