Microsoft Office renamed to “Microsoft 365 Copilot app”

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Scope and Timing of the Change

  • Several commenters note this rename actually happened months to a year ago; current outrage is “late rage-bait.”
  • Clarification: the rename mainly affects the “Office app” / office.com hub (and all‑in‑one mobile app), not the classic desktop Office suite or perpetual “Office 2024”-style products.
  • Confusion persists because office.com now says “Microsoft 365 Copilot app (formerly Office)” and the installer files still contain “Office” in their names.

Branding and Naming Critiques

  • Strong consensus that “Microsoft 365 Copilot app” is an awful, clunky name and a downgrade from the long‑established “Microsoft Office” brand.
  • Many see this as repeating past missteps like the “.NET everywhere” era or Azure AD → “Microsoft Entra ID.”
  • Comparisons are made to other infamous rebrands (Twitter → X, HBO Max → Max, Netflix “Qwikster”) and to Microsoft’s own history with Skype, MSN, Groove, Bob, etc.
  • Some argue the “Office” umbrella app was already confusing, so renaming that specific shell to “Copilot” arguably makes more sense.

Motives: AI Push and Metrics

  • Widespread suspicion that this is a way to:
    • Inflate Copilot usage numbers by counting everyday Office use as “Copilot.”
    • Justify heavy AI investment and higher subscription prices, since “AI” pricing is less anchored than “office suite” pricing.
  • Some think it’s about selling Microsoft the company as an AI leader rather than selling clear products to users.

User Experience and Product Impact

  • Several users report that the new Copilot‑first hub is actively worse:
    • Landing in a chat box instead of a clear “New Word/Excel/PowerPoint” UI.
    • Difficulty creating simple blank documents or using templates.
    • Bugs and sluggish behavior in the web interface.
  • Copilot within Office/Terminal is described as low‑quality compared to expectations set by other LLMs.
  • Some users respond by reverting to desktop apps, older Office versions, or alternative suites like LibreOffice or Apple’s iWork.

Broader View of Microsoft’s Direction

  • Many see this as emblematic of “AI everywhere” enshittification and poor taste in leadership/marketing.
  • Debate over whether killing the Office brand risks Microsoft’s dominance: some say enterprises are too locked in to care; others think this erosion of a powerful brand may eventually help competitors.