In August, Microsoft Teams introduced (or announced) a dozen or so new features, which Microsoft has gathered in a monthly summary. As usual, the new features cover areas such as chat and collaboration, meetings, Mesh, webinars and town halls, Teams Rooms, and more. Below, we present selected, most important changes in our study.
Chat and Collaboration
Table of Contents
Copilot prompts with time considerations
There is no longer any need to manually scroll and search through your chat history. Copilot w Teams supports time attributes in commands, such as “yesterday”, “last month”, “6 months ago” or “in December 2023”. Copilot will locate information from the specified time/time frame and provide insights about it.
Users can now more easily access shared channels, and channel owners can manage their membership. Users sharing the same tenant Microsoft 365 can request to join a shared channel using the channel share link. Channel owners will receive the request and can easily accept or reject it.
Channel Cards
You can now quickly review key channel information using the channel card. Hover over the channel name in the header or anywhere the channel is mentioned to see important information such as the channel description, last active time, channel name, membership information, which helps you quickly understand the context and purpose of the channel. The cards also provide easy access to notification settings, channel management for owners, and the channel list.
Apps supported in group chats with external users
You can now access the app in group chats with participants outside of your organization. Chat participants from Microsoft 365 tenants hosting the chat can install, remove, and update apps for all members to use. All participants can use apps provided by people in the organization hosting the group chat. Installing apps in these chats is subject to the app policies of the organization creating the chat.
Show/hide “Discover” news feed
The Discover feed provides a personalized, relevant feed of content from Teams channels, making it easier for you to stay informed and engage with the content that matters most. You can turn it on or off at Settings > General, by clicking the switch next to the option Show News Feed Discover in Channel List.
Other changes
Also introduced to Teams in August:
- Intelligent meeting summaries with AI-generated notes for the Government Community Cloud (GCC) environment.
- Smart meeting summaries for unscheduled town halls on Android devices.
- Reactions at town halls.
- New APIs for creating and recording webinars.
- New Graph APIs for Town Halls.
- Exporting town hall Q&A questions.
- Reaction visualizations from multiple host rooms in Mesh.
In our previous article you can also check Microsoft Teams changes from July 2024.
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Microsoft Teams August 2023 Updates: Improving Chat, Collaboration, and More
In August 2023, Microsoft Teams unveiled a comprehensive set of updates, boasting over a dozen new features designed to enhance user experience across various functionalities. From improving chat and collaboration to advancements in meetings, webinars, and Teams Rooms, these updates aim to streamline workflows and improve productivity for users. Below, we delve into the most significant changes introduced this month.
Chat and Collaboration Enhancements
Copilot Prompts with Time Considerations
Navigating through extensive chat histories can be a daunting task. However, with the introduction of Copilot in Teams, users can now utilize time attributes in their commands. Whether it’s searching for messages from “yesterday,” “last month,” or “in December 2023,” Copilot intelligently picks out relevant information based on the specified time frame, making retrieving past conversations and insights easier than ever.
Microsoft Teams now simplifies the process of accessing shared channels. Users within the same Microsoft 365 tenant can efficiently request to join a shared channel using the channel share link. Channel owners receive a request and can easily manage memberships by accepting or rejecting them, thereby fostering better collaboration.
Channel Cards
For a quick overview of essential channel details, Teams has introduced Channel Cards. Users can hover over a channel name to access key information, including channel description, last activity time, and membership details. This feature not only helps in efficiently understanding channel context but also provides quick navigation options related to notification settings and channel management.
Apps Supported in Group Chats with External Users
The multi-tenant functionality of Teams is boosted with the ability for users to integrate apps into group chats that include external participants. Users from Microsoft 365 tenants can now install, remove, and update applications that all members can utilize. This flexibility supports better collaboration across organizations while adhering to app policies set by the host organization.
Show/Hide “Discover” News Feed
The Discover feed feature provides users with a tailored stream of content from Teams channels, promoting engagement with relevant updates. Users can easily manage this feature through Settings > General, allowing them to toggle the news feed on or off with a simple switch beside the option “Show News Feed Discover in Channel List.”
Additional Notable Changes
In addition to the advancements in chat and collaboration, Microsoft Teams introduced several noteworthy updates in August, including:
- Intelligent meeting summaries with AI-generated notes specifically for the Government Community Cloud (GCC) environment.
- Smart meeting summaries for unscheduled town halls on Android devices.
- The ability to add reactions at town halls, enriching attendee engagement.
- New APIs for creating and recording webinars, facilitating smoother event management.
- Graph APIs for Town Halls, enabling more structured data handling.
- The option to export town hall Q&A questions, enhancing information sharing post-event.
- Improved reaction visualizations from multiple host rooms within Mesh, contributing to a more interactive experience.
For those seeking to explore previous updates, be sure to check out our article on Microsoft Teams changes from July 2023.
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Conclusion
With these impressive updates introduced in August 2023, Microsoft Teams continues to evolve, placing greater emphasis on enhancing user experience and fostering collaboration. By integrating powerful features like Copilot prompts, efficient channel access, and personalized content feeds, Teams strengthens its position as a leading platform for communication and teamwork in the workplace.
Whether you are part of a small team or a large organization, these enhancements are sure to streamline your workflow, promote efficiency, and enhance collaboration across all levels of your organization. Stay tuned for future updates as Microsoft continues to innovate and improve its offerings.
