💡 Our Technical Review in summary
Summary
- Microsoft is introducing AI-driven workflow templates within the Workflows app in Microsoft Teams, powered by Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- These workflows utilize “scheduled Copilot prompts” through predefined templates, allowing users to automate complex operations and repetitive daily tasks using generative AI.
- The feature is specifically designed for users who hold a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and have access to the Workflows app.
- Updated Timeline: General Availability (Worldwide) is now expected to begin in late January 2026 and complete by mid-February 2026.
Impact
- User Productivity: Licensed users gain access to intelligent automation templates that simplify the setup of complex AI interactions without requiring manual prompt engineering.
- Platform Availability: This update applies to Microsoft Teams for Web and Mac.
- Default State: The feature is essentially “off” if the Workflows app is not enabled in your tenant. If the Workflows app is allowed, these AI templates will become visible to licensed Copilot users.
- Data Interaction: This change introduces AI/ML capabilities that interact with customer data via scheduled prompts to execute automated tasks.
- Privacy Controls: Disabling this feature requires a tenant-wide policy change that affects other Copilot features (Optional Connected Experiences).
Action Required
- Enable the Workflows App: Ensure the Workflows app is allowed within the Teams Admin Center (under Manage Apps) if you want users to access these AI templates.
- License Review: Verify that users intended to use this feature have an active Microsoft 365 Copilot license assigned.
- Policy Configuration: To disable this specific AI capability, admins must use the Cloud Policy service to set the “Allow the use of additional optional connected experiences in Office” policy to Disabled. Note that this will also disable other scheduled prompts in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- Training and Documentation: Familiarize your IT staff and power users with “scheduled prompts” for Copilot to better understand how these automated interactions handle data and task execution.
- Timeline Monitoring: Update any internal rollout schedules to reflect the new January 2026 General Availability date.
Microsoft Official Update
Service: N/A
Category: stayInformed
Severity: normal
Updated October 17, 2025: We have updated the rollout timeline below. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
AI Workflows in the Workflows app for Microsoft Teams provide users with intelligent automation templates powered by Microsoft 365 Copilot. These workflows are powered by scheduled Copilot prompts through predefined templates for easier setup, helping users automate complex tasks and streamline daily operations. Admins can enable this feature by allowing access to the Workflows app in Teams.
This feature is available only to users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
This message applies to Teams for Web and Mac.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 500379.
When this will happen
Targeted Release: Rolling out late September 2025; expected completion by early October 2025.
General Availability (Worldwide): Rolling out late January 2026 (previously mid-October); expected completion by mid-February 2026 (previously late October).
How this affects your organization
Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and access to the Workflows app in Teams will see new workflow templates powered by scheduled Copilot prompts. These templates simplify setup and enhance productivity through intelligent automation.
Screenshot 1 – Workflow setup experience showing Copilot-powered workflow:
Screenshot 2 – Examples AI workflow templates on the homepage of the new Workflows app in Teams:
This feature is off by default unless the Workflows app is enabled.
What you can do to prepare
To enable this feature for your users:
- Familiarize yourself with Copilot scheduled prompts.
- Enable the Workflows app in Microsoft Teams.
If you prefer to disable this feature, use Cloud Policy to set the “Allow the use of additional optional connected experiences in Office” policy to Disabled. This will also disable scheduled prompts in Microsoft 365 Copilot. For more information, see Admin controls for optional connected experiences. If the Workflows app in Microsoft Teams is available to users, then this will disable AI Workflows powered by Copilot for those users.
Learn more:
- Manage scheduled prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn
- Overview of optional connected experiences in Office | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn
Compliance considerations
| Does the change introduce or significantly modify AI/ML or agent capabilities that interact with or provide access to customer data? | Yes. This change introduces scheduled Copilot prompts that interact with user data to automate workflows in Microsoft Teams. |
| Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI? | Yes. Users can interact with Microsoft 365 Copilot through predefined workflow templates in the Workflows app in Teams. |
