Microsoft is stepping up its competition with Google’s Gemini by expanding the reach and functionality of its AI assistant, Copilot. The company has announced the rollout of Copilot Cowork on both iOS and Android. This marks an important move in its effort to evolve Copilot from a conversational chatbot into a more action-driven AI assistant capable of handling practical, real-world tasks.
The latest Cowork update also introduces features like “Skills” and plugin support, allowing Copilot to integrate with specialised Microsoft tools. Copilot Cowork will have better capabilities across domains such as data analysis, marketing, and workflow automation. This updated Copilot is aimed at improving productivity for enterprise users by enabling Copilot to execute tasks rather than simply respond to prompts.
With this rollout, Copilot Cowork is now available on Android and iOS, offering mobile users an alternative to Google’s Gemini. The mobile version supports background task execution, allowing users to start workflows, monitor progress remotely, and interact through voice commands without needing to stay at their desks.
This launch is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to make Copilot available across multiple devices and platforms, creating a more seamless experience. By bringing Cowork to smartphones, Microsoft is targeting professionals who need flexible, continuous access to AI-driven tools in their daily workflows.
One of the most notable additions is Skills, a feature that acts as a set of specialised extensions designed for domain-specific tasks. These can help in managing data workflows, generating reports, and supporting project management.
Plugin support further broadens Copilot’s usefulness by enabling deeper integration with third-party tools. This allows the assistant to automate more complex workflows, which could make it increasingly valuable across industries such as finance, legal services, and marketing.
In addition, plugin support enables deeper integration with third-party tools, enhancing Copilot’s ability to automate complex processes. Such integrations could make Copilot more versatile across sectors, including legal, finance, and marketing.
These additions reflect a wider industry shift toward modular AI systems that can be customised according to specific business needs and user requirements.
With this update, Microsoft is clearly positioning Copilot as more than just a chatbot. Copilot Cowork is designed to plan tasks, carry out workflows, and deliver outcomes with minimal human input.
Built for enterprise environments, it operates within existing security and compliance frameworks, making it suitable for handling sensitive business data. It also provides checkpoints during task execution, allowing users to review progress or make adjustments when necessary.
As competition in the AI assistant market intensifies, Microsoft’s push toward more autonomous, “agentic” AI signals where the category is heading. With mobile availability and expanded task execution capabilities, Copilot is increasingly positioning itself as a serious productivity platform in the evolving AI landscape.
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