Across Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform, August 2026 is defined by rapid AI expansion, major Copilot enhancements, and broad GA releases that strengthen automation, app development, and agent‑based workflows. Power Apps gains a fully modernized data grid control and improved modern controls, Power Automate expands versioning capabilities, Copilot Studio delivers new computer‑using agents and workflow upgrades, and Microsoft 365 Copilot continues accelerating adoption with more than 30 million paid seats.
Top News Stories (August 27, 2026)
- Power Platform July/August updates — Data grid modern control becomes GA, bringing fluent UI, search, sorting, multi‑row selection, and expanded column types to canvas apps.
- Modern controls improvements — Toggle and checkbox controls receive consistent properties, tooltips, and true read‑only mode.
- Closed-loop learning for agents — Power Apps MCP server introduces automatic structured memory from user corrections, improving enterprise agent accuracy over time.
- Release planner code app — New sample app built with Power Apps code apps, React, and custom connectors helps users explore Microsoft release plans.
- Power Automate desktop version comparison — Desktop flows now support built‑in version comparison for easier change tracking.
- Power Fx user‑defined types GA — Strong typing for JSON and complex data structures is now fully available.
- Custom tools and rich UI in Copilot conversations — Public preview enables app‑specific MCP tools and Fluent UI widgets inside Copilot.
- Custom theming GA for model‑driven apps — Fluent 2‑based theming becomes mandatory, allowing full branding alignment.
- Copilot Studio updates — Computer‑using agents, redesigned workflows, and Work IQ extensibility are now available.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot momentum — Copilot surpasses 30 million paid seats, with net seat adds doubling QoQ.
- Microsoft Scout introduction — New always‑on personal agent integrated across Microsoft 365 apps.
- Work IQ APIs — New intelligence layer helps organizations understand work patterns across Microsoft 365.
- Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot — New SKUs launching July 1 with Copilot built‑in for small businesses.
