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Microsoft Copilot Now Provides GPT-4 Turbo for Free

By Jeff Butts

Published March 14, 2024

Free users of Microsoft Copilot just got an unexpected free upgrade to GPT-4 Turbo. Here are the details you need to know.

Microsoft has taken a bold step forward with its artificial intelligence assistant, Copilot. An option once reserved for paid users is now available to everyone, even those on the Free Tier. That’s right, the power of GPT-4 Turbo, previously exclusive to the Pro tier of Copilot, is open to users of the free version.

Free Copilot Users Gain Option to Choose GPT-4 Turbo

This change means that by selecting either Creative or Precise mode, users on the Free Tier can harness the capabilities of GPT-4 Turbo.

Subscribers of the Copilot Pro service continue to enjoy the benefits of GPT-4 Turbo by default. However, Mikhail Parakhin, Microsoft’s advertising and web services CEO, shared an exciting update on X (formerly Twitter), revealing that Pro users now have the flexibility to switch between this advanced model and previous versions, depending on their preference.

A Microsoft spokesperson highlighted, “For those using Copilot in Creative mode without a subscription, the experience is now powered by GPT-4 Turbo.” They also reassured that Pro users have the option to toggle GPT-4 Turbo on or off in Creative mode, offering personalized AI assistance that suits their needs.

Differences Between GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo

The introduction of GPT-4 Turbo, which is trained on data up to April 2023, brings enhancements such as text-to-speech capabilities and an expanded context window capable of processing 128,000 tokens. This upgrade allows for richer interactions, providing users with more detailed and relevant responses based on extensive textual input.

Microsoft unveiled Copilot to integrate AI across its ecosystem, including Windows 11, the Bing search engine, Microsoft 365, and the Edge browser. With a subscription cost of $20 per month, the Pro tier offers additional AI-powered features in Office applications, priority access to the latest OpenAI models, and advanced image-creation tools.

Everyone’s Jumping on the AI Bandwagon

This move comes as part of a broader trend where technology companies are eagerly incorporating generative AI into their offerings, inspired by the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. From Google’s ventures into AI-enhanced search to Samsung’s AI-equipped Galaxy S24 smartphone, the race is on. Even Apple has hinted at exciting AI developments on the horizon.

OpenAI continues to innovate by allowing users to create specialized AI apps while competition heats up with Google Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and others, enhancing their AI chatbot capabilities.

Hints of GPT-4.5 Turbo Coming Soon

The decision to extend GPT-4 Turbo to the free tier of Copilot might raise questions about Microsoft’s strategy, especially considering it was a key selling point for the Pro version.

This move could signal anticipation of the next big thing in AI, as rumors of a GPT-4.5 Turbo model swirl, promising even greater speed, accuracy, and scalability. Eagle-eyed folks on Twitter and Reddit recently spotted a now-deleted OpenAI blog post announcing the new version’s upcoming release.

While details remain speculative, Microsoft’s actions suggest an exciting future for Copilot users, hinting at the possibility of introducing GPT-4.5 Turbo to the Pro tier in due course.