Microsoft prepares Copilot for GPT-5 with a new Smart mode

Recent developments around GPT-5 suggest that Microsoft is laying the groundwork for its launch, which is now anticipated in early August. Code changes in Microsoft Copilot point to a new “Smart” mode, joining the existing options like Quick Response, Think Deeper, and Deep Research. This new mode carries a label referencing GPT-5, with a description indicating it leverages GPT-5’s ability to “think quickly or deeply”, mirroring Sam Altman’s hints that GPT-5 will unify the strengths of the o-series reasoning model and GPT-series non-reasoning capabilities into a single system.

The Smart mode appears designed to automatically adjust its response strategy, deciding on the fly whether to provide a rapid answer or engage in more complex reasoning based on the user’s input. This would remove the need for manual mode switching, potentially streamlining Copilot’s experience for students, knowledge workers, and enterprise users who handle a mix of quick tasks and deep research.

Currently, this Smart mode remains hidden and is not yet available to any users; it’s still in active development. Some preliminary technical tests indicate that while it is present in the codebase, it defaults to fast-style responses when forced, and there’s no public evidence that GPT-5 is powering it yet. This mode is likely intended to launch in parallel with the official release of GPT-5, as part of a broader coordinated rollout between OpenAI and Microsoft.

For Microsoft, integrating such a feature into Copilot would further solidify its role in offering seamless AI-powered productivity across its suite. With GPT-5 expected to bring unified reasoning and non-reasoning capabilities, this move positions both Microsoft and OpenAI to deliver a more adaptable AI assistant experience as soon as GPT-5 becomes publicly available. Stay tuned for updates as the public release window draws near.