Microsoft recently announced that it will be retiring its Copilot GPT Builder feature, which allowed users to create and share customized chatbots. The company will remove the ability to create GPTs starting July 10, 2024, and will delete all GPTs and associated data by July 14, 2024. This move comes as a surprise, considering Microsoft had only launched the feature a few months ago in March 2024. The company has stated that it will now focus on GPTs for Commercial and Enterprise scenarios, although it has not officially announced a similar service for enterprise Copilot subscribers.
The decision to retire Copilot GPT Builder has raised questions about Microsoft’s commitment to new AI products and services. Some believe that this move may hamper innovation from grassroots users who have been experimenting with the tools. Pennsylvania University Wharton School of Business professor Ethan Mollick expressed his surprise at Microsoft giving up on consumer GPTs so quickly, stating that it could cut off an important source of innovation.
For users who have already used the Copilot GPT Builder to create custom GPTs, Microsoft is offering a small concession. Users can open their custom GPTs in “Edit” mode and copy the instructions for future reference. However, this is unlikely to satisfy users who relied on the tool to work within Copilot, as they will now have to either keep the instructions installed or paste them into Copilot as prompts, resulting in a less-than-ideal user experience.
The Copilot GPT Builder was a powerful tool that allowed Copilot Pro subscribers to create task-specific chatbots. It offered customization options such as retrieval augmented generation (RAG) for integrating external data and toggling web browsing and image generation capabilities. However, all custom-built GPTs will become inaccessible after July 14, 2024.
Microsoft has assured Copilot subscribers that it will delete any data collected through the Copilot GPT Builder in accordance with its commitment to data privacy. The company has provided detailed guidance on canceling subscriptions for those who wish to do so.
Reflecting on the journey of Copilot GPT Builder, its launch was met with enthusiasm as it empowered users to tailor AI tools to their specific needs. It allowed employees to create apps suited to their job roles without technical expertise. The tool drew inspiration from OpenAI’s GPT Builder, indicating a trend towards customizable AI solutions in the market.
Microsoft’s shift towards Commercial and Enterprise scenarios suggests a targeted approach to leveraging AI capabilities in a business context. However, the retirement of Copilot GPT Builder may not be viewed favorably by users who have invested time and money in creating custom Copilot GPTs. It also raises questions about the fate of OpenAI’s GPT Builder and custom GPT Store, which have not received much attention since their launch. OpenAI’s move to make custom GPTs accessible to free users is a positive sign that they still see value in these tools.
In conclusion, Microsoft’s decision to retire Copilot GPT Builder has left users disappointed and raises concerns about the company’s commitment to new AI products. However, it also signals a shift towards targeted AI solutions for commercial and enterprise scenarios. The market trend towards customizable AI solutions is likely to continue, despite the retirement of this particular tool.