Microsoft Just Renamed Office to "Copilot" — Here's What It Teaches About AI Adoption (+ 6 Free Prompts to Evaluate AI Tools)
400 million users woke up to an AI rebrand they never asked for. The backlash reveals exactly how NOT to implement AI at work.
Microsoft just did something bold — and possibly reckless.
They renamed Office to "Microsoft 365 Copilot app."
Word. Excel. PowerPoint. All now branded around AI. Overnight. For 400 million users.
No gradual rollout. No opt-in. Just a rebrand that screams: "AI is here whether you like it or not."
Social media already has a name for it: Microslop.
The Problem With Forced AI
This isn’t about whether AI is useful. It is.
The problem is how it’s being delivered.
Microsoft is betting that if AI feels inevitable, people will accept it. But that’s not how adoption works.
Renaming a product doesn’t reinvent it. Slapping “AI” on mature software doesn’t make it AI-native. And forcing adoption doesn’t create acceptance.
Here’s the sharper lesson:
If AI doesn’t quietly make work better, users will loudly reject it.
Three Anti-Patterns Microsoft Just Demonstrated
- Branding over function
The best AI features don’t need branding. They disappear into the workflow. When AI works well, you don’t notice it — things just get easier.
- Hype over taste
A $3.5 trillion company tried to reboot a mature monopoly with hype instead of thoughtful design. That’s how you lose trust with your most loyal users.
- Renaming as reinvention
Changing what something is called doesn’t change what it does. Users aren’t fooled. They’ll judge the product by whether it actually helps — not by what it’s named.
What Good AI Adoption Looks Like
The future of productivity won’t feel like “Copilot” or anything AI-powered.
It’ll feel like nothing changed — except everything works better.
That’s the standard. AI should reduce friction, not create identity crises for products that already work.
Before you adopt any AI tool at work, ask:
- Does this solve a real problem I have?
- Does it fit into my existing workflow?
- Would I use it if it wasn’t branded as “AI”?
If the answer is no, it’s hype — not help.
Free Prompt Card: Evaluate Any AI Tool
I created a prompt card with 6 ready-to-use prompts to help you critically evaluate any AI tool before adopting it.
Whether your company is pushing Copilot or any other AI product — these prompts will help you cut through the hype and decide what’s actually worth your time.
- Your Next Step
Let's Build Your Advantage
If you are ready to move beyond discussion and start implementing intelligent solutions that deliver a measurable impact, let's talk. I am selective about the projects I take on, focusing on partnerships where I can create significant, lasting value.
FAQs
Microsoft rebranded the Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to “Microsoft 365 Copilot app,” making AI branding central to their productivity tools for 400 million users.
The nickname reflects frustration with what many see as a forced, rushed rebrand that prioritizes AI marketing over genuine product improvement or user choice.
Copilot has useful features, but the backlash isn’t about functionality — it’s about forcing AI branding on users who didn’t ask for it, without demonstrating clear value first.
Good AI adoption is invisible. The tool should solve real problems, fit existing workflows, and prove value before demanding attention. Renaming isn’t reinvention.
Use the prompts in the free prompt card to evaluate whether the tool solves a real problem you have. If not, document the friction and advocate for better solutions.