Microsoft has announced the retirement of its AI agent builder tool, GPT Builder, along with support for Copilot GPTs. This feature, available to Copilot Pro subscribers, will be phased out between July 10 and July 14. Once retired, subscribers will no longer have access to the GPTs they have created. The company has not provided specific reasons for discontinuing the feature, which was introduced just three months ago with the launch of the Copilot Pro subscription in global markets.
Retirement of GPT Builder in Copilot Pro
In an official support document, Microsoft confirmed the upcoming changes. The company stated, “Microsoft will remove the ability to create GPTs starting July 10, 2024, and then remove all GPTs (created by Microsoft and by customers) along with their associated GPT data also starting July 10, 2024, through July 14, 2024.”
GPT Builder allowed Copilot Pro subscribers to create mini chatbots for specific tasks. These AI agents, or GPTs, were designed to handle specific instructions and knowledge bases, making them efficient for particular uses. For instance, users could create a Copilot GPT to analyze research papers and identify inconsistencies. At its launch, Microsoft highlighted that these GPTs could save time by reusing a set of AI prompts.
Using Shift strategy to enhance Core Copilot features
While Microsoft did not elaborate on the decision to retire the GPT Builder, it indicated a shift in strategy towards enhancing core Copilot features. The company mentioned that it is reevaluating its approach to Copilot extensibility and, for now, will focus on core product experiences. Interestingly, GPTs will continue to be available for Microsoft’s commercial and enterprise clients, but will be discontinued for the consumer-focused AI platform.
Microsoft has advised users to save any instructions for their Copilot GPTs before July 10, as access to these GPTs and their data will be revoked after that date. Users can view and save these instructions by opening the GPT in edit mode and navigating to the Configure tab. The company also assured that all subscriber data collected by Copilot GPT will be deleted from its servers.
In India, the Copilot Pro subscription is priced at Rs. 2,000 per month. Microsoft has provided guidance for users who may wish to cancel their subscriptions in light of these changes.
Microsoft’s decision to retirement of GPT builder
Microsoft’s decision to retire GPT Builder from the Copilot Pro subscription underscores a strategic pivot towards refining core Copilot functionalities. While the AI agent creation feature will no longer be available to consumers, commercial and enterprise clients will still have access to GPTs. This move reflects Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to optimize its AI offerings and deliver more focused user experiences.
