Copilot Gets GPT-5.1 and Built-In Reminders

GPT-5.1 Replaces Smart Mode

The server-side rollout swaps GPT-5 for its iterative successor, GPT-5.1, within Copilot‘s Smart Mode – the adaptive routing system that chooses between instant responses and deep reasoning. Early Windows users report seeing the upgrade without manual updates, as Microsoft handles the transition backend.

What Changes With GPT-5.1

• Faster instruction following: Improved adherence to complex multi-step prompts
• Enhanced conversational warmth: More natural dialogue flow in Instant mode
• Maintained thinking depth: Deep reasoning capabilities remain unchanged for complex tasks

Users won’t notice dramatic differences, GPT-5.1 prioritizes refinement over revolution. The upgrade appears in Copilot Studio as an experimental option for enterprise teams testing before production deployment.

Reminders: The Missing Productivity Feature

Buried in recent Copilot menus, a new “Reminders” option positions Microsoft to fill a gap competitors largely ignore. Unlike Meta AI’s WhatsApp integration or ChatGPT’s Tasks feature (limited to Plus/Pro subscribers), Copilot’s implementation aims for seamless task management across Windows, web, and mobile.

How Reminders Could Work

Based on early testing signals, Copilot’s Reminders feature will let users:

1. Create reminders conversationally: “Remind me to submit the expense report Friday afternoon”
2. View active reminders: Dedicated menu for managing scheduled prompts
3. Sync across devices: Notifications appear on Windows, mobile, and web simultaneously
4. Link to conversations: Reminders reference specific chat threads for context

Sample Use Cases

"Remind me tomorrow at 9 AM to review the Q4 budget proposal"
"Set a weekly reminder for Monday mornings to check project status"
"Alert me in 3 days if I haven't finished the client presentation"
"Notify me when it's time to renew my software licenses next month"

Why Task Management Matters for Retention

The industry’s reluctance to build native task management puzzles product strategists. Meta’s WhatsApp reminders demonstrate the retention value: users return daily to check tasks, creating habitual engagement loops.

Retention Impact by Feature Type

• One-time queries (current model): Users ask questions, get answers, leave
• Recurring reminders: Daily check-ins become automatic, building dependency
• Project organization: Long-term context keeps users anchored to the platform

ChatGPT’s Tasks feature requires $20/month subscriptions, leaving free users without basic scheduling. Google offloads reminders to Google Tasks, creating friction between AI conversations and actionable follow-ups. Apple Intelligence connects Siri to Reminders app, but lacks conversational task creation depth.

Projects: Organizing Chat History

Alongside Reminders, Microsoft tests a “Projects” workflow for categorizing conversations — functionality ChatGPT offered since 2023. Projects let users group related chats (e.g., “Marketing Campaign,” “Q1 Budget,” “Client Onboarding”) for easier retrieval and context management.

How Projects Improve Workflow

Labs: Experimental Features Direct Access

Microsoft’s new “Labs” menu consolidates experimental features previously scattered across Copilot’s interface. Early adopters see Vision (analyze screen content), 3D model creation, and audio expressions grouped under one roof.

Current Labs Features

• Vision: Copilot analyzes what’s on your screen (native Windows app only)
• 3D Imagine: Generate downloadable GLB files from text/images
• Audio Expressions: Create custom audio clips and soundscapes
• Portraits: AI-generated profile images and avatars

Some features redirect to web interfaces when clicked from desktop apps—native implementations arrive later.

Windows 11 AI Agents Preview

Beyond Reminders, Microsoft tests AI agents that manipulate local files directly. Users can instruct Copilot to “organize photos by date” or “convert PDFs to Word docs”—tasks requiring system-level access previously unavailable.

How AI Agents Work

1. Sandboxed execution: Agents run in isolated “Agent Workspace” environments
2. Explicit permissions: Users grant folder/file access per request
3. Background operation: Tasks execute without interrupting workflow
4. Audit logs: View complete history of agent actions

This functionality connects to Windows 365 Cloud PCs, where enterprise admins configure AI capabilities organization-wide. Security teams control which file types agents access and whether personal vs. work data remains separated.

The Competitive Pressure

Microsoft’s updates respond to aggressive competition:

• Meta AI: 40 million daily users since launch, integrated across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
• ChatGPT: 100+ million weekly active users, fastest-growing consumer app in history
• Google Gemini: Free advanced voice mode, tight Google Workspace integration
• Perplexity: Real-time search with citations, challenging traditional search engines

Copilot’s advantage lies in enterprise integration—Microsoft 365, Windows, Azure—but consumer features lag behind standalone apps. GPT-5.1 and Reminders address that gap.

Rollout Timeline and Availability

What This Means for Users

For Individuals

• Finally, a free AI assistant with built-in task management (if Reminders launches free)
• Better conversation organization through Projects
• Improved Smart Mode responses with GPT-5.1 refinements

For Businesses

• Enhanced productivity through AI-managed reminders and follow-ups
• Project-based chat organization improves team knowledge sharing
• GPT-5.1 in Copilot Studio enables more reliable custom agents
• AI file agents reduce manual IT support requests

For the Industry

• Validates task management as critical retention feature
• Pressures competitors to add native reminders/scheduling
• Shows enterprise AI moving beyond chat into workflow automation

Reminders represent AI’s evolution from reactive assistants to proactive partners. Instead of answering questions only when prompted, Copilot will initiate interactions—reminding about deadlines, suggesting follow-ups, flagging forgotten tasks.

What’s Still Missing

• Calendar integration: No evidence Copilot syncs with Outlook Calendar directly
• Collaborative reminders: Can teams share reminder lists?
• Smart suggestions: Will Copilot proactively recommend reminders based on conversations?
• Cross-platform notifications: How do reminders sync between personal and work accounts?

Microsoft hasn’t confirmed pricing for Reminders, it could remain free (like basic Copilot) or require Copilot Pro subscriptions ($20/month). Given Meta AI offers reminders for free, paywall pressure favors open access.

How to Access Early Features

GPT-5.1 (Available Now)

1. Open Copilot (Windows app, web, or mobile)
2. Start a conversation, no settings needed
3. Smart Mode automatically uses GPT-5.1 where rolled out

Labs Features (Limited Access)

1. Download latest Copilot app from Microsoft Store
2. Look for “Labs” menu in left sidebar
3. Try Vision (Windows native) or web-redirected experiments

Reminders/Projects (Not Yet Public)

These features remain in closed testing. Microsoft hasn’t opened beta signups, so general availability waits until Q1 2026.

The Bottom Line

Microsoft’s triple update, GPT-5.1, Reminders, and Projects, signals Copilot’s shift from conversational novelty to genuine productivity platform. By finally addressing task management, Microsoft acknowledges what competitors already proved: retention comes from making AI indispensable, not just useful.

Whether Reminders launches free or paywalled determines its impact. A free tier would pressure ChatGPT and Google to democratize their scheduling features. A Pro-only release risks handing retention advantage back to Meta AI’s WhatsApp integration.

Either way, the industry’s collective blindness to task management is ending. AI assistants are becoming true assistants, not just answer machines, but partners that remember, remind, and organize. About time.