Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks gets new tools to turn documents into mind maps and more

In 2024, Google unveiled NotebookLM, a research‑assistant application that delivers sharper answers and deeper insights by grounding responses in a user’s own source material, thereby cutting down on AI inaccuracies and hallucinations. The tool quickly went viral, prompting Google to transform it into a full‑blown service that now sits within Google Workspace, aimed squarely at enterprise and educational audiences.

Building on that momentum, Microsoft launched Copilot Notebooks as part of Microsoft 365 Copilot last year. The new feature mirrors NotebookLM’s core idea but zeroes in on corporate data, leveraging Microsoft 365 permissions, SharePoint content, and Office integration. Users can import relevant organizational files into a notebook and then ask Copilot to analyze that specific corpus.

Earlier this year, Microsoft rolled out a sweeping update for Copilot Notebooks, introducing a fresh redesign and a host of new capabilities. Today, the company announced several enhancements that will be available to Copilot Notebooks users this month.

Within the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, all chats, creations, and references now coexist in one unified space, simplifying the tracking of ongoing work without the need to toggle between separate sections. The traditional notebook‑style experience will remain exclusive to OneNote, but because notebooks sync seamlessly between the Copilot app and OneNote, users can fluidly transition between the two when needed. This refreshed visual layout will debut in the Frontier program in the coming days.

The update also unlocks new reference types for notebooks. Frontier program members can now embed Teams meetings—including transcripts, notes, chats, and shared files—as references, and add web page URLs. Microsoft has announced that Outlook email support will arrive in Frontier shortly, letting users pull email threads directly into their notebooks.

On iOS, the OneNote app now lets users capture live audio, snap images of whiteboards, and type notes all in one session. Copilot can then transform these inputs into a structured notebook page, enabling users to ask questions, convert the content into a presentation, and more. This feature is rolling out to general availability on the OneNote mobile app for iOS.

Copilot Notebooks already generate Office documents, presentations, audio overviews, mind maps, and study guides. With the latest update, they can now create Excel spreadsheets, a capability now available to Frontier participants. Additionally, notebooks can produce infographics, a feature slated for Frontier release in the coming days.