Microsoft Places Aims to Make Workplaces More Flexible With AI

Microsoft Places, the company’s new connected workplace platform designed to reimagine flexible work with AI is now available in public preview. The app allows organizations to optimize workspaces, save time, and cut costs by using data from Outlook and Teams to better plan where work should happen.

The app was first announced at the company’s Ignite conference in October 2022, and it later launched in private preview last year. In practice, the app lets employees indicate when and where they plan to come into the office so they can coordinate their schedules with coworkers.

“AI innovation is already improving how you work; improving where you work is the next opportunity, “Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, AI at Work. With Microsoft Places, an app that reimagines flexible work, AI can make coordinating in-office time and connecting with coworkers even easier. In addition to fostering improved coordination and connection, Places optimizes the effectiveness and engagement of the workplace.”

So, Microsoft Places lets employees easily adjust their location and view their colleagues’ location schedule. However, the app’s features are also available within other Microsoft 365 apps. For example, users can adjust their location and schedule and see coworker information in their Outlook Calendar, and a Places finder also lets them search for rooms and desks. In Microsoft Teams, users can see the location of their coworkers or type @nearby to communicate with those around them. Presence information is limited to signals about in-office locations, and it can be managed by IT admins and employees.

Microsoft also teased today an upcoming integration of Places data into Microsoft Copilot. “Coming in the second half of 2024, you will be able to use Copilot to understand which days are best to come into the office. Copilot will even share reasons why certain days are best to come in, highlighting things like in-person meetings, your manager’s planned attendance, or if most of your coworkers are planning to be in the office,” Spataro explained.

Once Microsoft Places go out of preview, the connected workplace platform will be available with a Microsoft Teams Premium subscription. At $10 per user per month (or $7/month for new customers through June 30, 2024) on top of a base Teams license, Teams Premium provides access to AI-powered metings, advanced security features, and more.