Microsoft is about to let Microsoft 365 Family and Premium subscribers share their Copilot and AI allowances with other people on the plan. The catch: OneDrive storage moves from 1TB per person to a shared 2TB pool.
Microsoft added AI features to Personal and Family plans last year, but only the primary account holder could use them. The Verge reports that an email to Family and Premium subscribers now lays out the changes, which roll out over the coming months. Microsoft hasn’t given a firm date for the AI changes.
What changes
The email, as quoted by The Verge, lists three changes:
- Shared AI: you can share your Copilot benefits and AI usage with the other members of your plan, and manage AI access for younger family members.
- One AI allowance: individual limits per AI feature give way to a single usage allowance that you spend on the advanced features you use most. You can also buy more AI usage when you need it.
- Shared storage: the 1TB-per-person allowance becomes 2TB for the whole plan. Members keep their own accounts and files private, and the change applies after your first renewal after 2 May 2027.
A plan covers the owner plus up to five other people, so the old arrangement allowed up to 6TB in total. Microsoft’s support note says existing subscribers in eligible markets may qualify for transitional bonus storage. The Verge notes that Microsoft also plans to support families that use a lot of storage.
PCMag reports that the support page still says AI benefits “cannot be shared with others”, so the documentation hasn’t caught up with the email yet. It also says subscribers are unhappy about the storage cut, and that the change is unlikely to bring lower prices. Microsoft says it will email subscribers with more details before each change takes effect, and that no action is needed for now.
The AI allowance is the open question
The Verge points out that the move to a single allowance could leave some subscribers paying more for AI, depending on how they use Copilot. Microsoft hasn’t said how large the shared allowance is, or what extra usage will cost. Those figures will decide whether sharing is a real upgrade for a household or a way to stretch the same quota across more people.
Microsoft 365 Premium a year ago. It bundles the Microsoft 365 Family apps with Copilot Pro benefits, at $19.99 a month, according to The Verge. Microsoft has been pushing Copilot deeper into its consumer products, a push we’ve also seen in the Windows 11 October update and covered in our look at Microsoft’s AI strategy.
What it means for the UAE
The email The Verge saw doesn’t say which markets get the changes first, and the support note only refers to “eligible markets”. Microsoft’s UAE store currently lists Microsoft 365 Family at USD 139.99 a year or USD 13.99 a month, with 1TB per person. UAE households should therefore expect the same storage change at renewal, but Microsoft hasn’t confirmed regional timing or pricing for Saudi Arabia or Egypt.
Do I need to do anything now?
No. Microsoft says it will email you with details before each change takes effect.
When does the storage cut apply?
Existing subscribers see it after their first renewal after 2 May 2027.
Can other family members use my Copilot allowance today?
Not yet. Microsoft’s support page still says AI features can’t be shared, and they plan to roll out sharing in the coming months.
