Microsoft Places will be generally available in the 365 Platform in November

Microsoft Places, a new AI-powered workplace app meant for flexible workers, will finally be released in November 2024 as a Microsft 365 app. After being teased earlier this year and previewed publicly over the summer, the app will see a general release next month, according to the latest entry in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap.

It will be released on the Mac, Android, iOS, Desktop, and Web platforms, and you can integrate Microsoft Places in Outlook, Teams, the 365 platform, and Copilot.

Here’s what the entry says:

Microsoft Places is an AI-powered workplace app for flexible work, empowering hybrid employees to foster in-office collaboration and leveraging insights into space optimization. Places intelligently allows you to coordinate your hybrid team to make the most of in-office days, modernize how employees make connections, and optimize space management with occupancy and utilization data.

At the same time, the Microsoft 365 Roadmap also reveals that Places will be enhanced with Intelligent suggestions in calendar and Workplace Presence. The first capability will allow users to organize meetings and book rooms for them quickly.

The description reads:

Intelligent suggestions will appear in calendar peek cards and the Places people pages when users have actions to complete to organize their day. Users will be prompted to “quick book” rooms for in-person meetings and desks for in-office days. They will also see recommendations to update their work location to “Office” when needed for in-person events.

The second one works similar to Work Hours and Location (which was recently updated to display the building you’re working from). It will prompt Microsoft Places to let you check in to the office in Outlook or Teams, confirm your work tasks, receive important reminders, and even check on who has come to the office or not.

The description reads:

With Workplace Presence, employees will have the ability to check in to the office in Outlook, Teams, and Places to confirm their work plans, receive check-in reminders, and view others nearby and who planned to come in. #newoutlookforwindows

As you might know, Microsoft Places is integrated with Copilot. You can use the AI capabilities to schedule your work hours and maintain a proper level of flexibility in your work.

Are you excited about this new platform coming in November? What’s your take on Microsoft Places?