Microsoft has begun offering GPT-5.1 within Copilot Studio as part of an early access rollout aligned with OpenAI’s release of the model. The company said the experimental version is now accessible to U.S. customers using early-release Power Platform environments, positioning the update as a step toward broader deployment.
According to the announcement, the GPT-5.1 series is designed to enhance adaptability in “thinking time” for both chat and complex reasoning tasks — a reference from the original release describing how the model adjusts response depth depending on user needs. Microsoft indicated that the update is intended to give organisations a chance to engage with new capabilities before they reach general availability.
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The company said experimental models are meant for evaluation in non-production settings, allowing customers to compare them against existing systems and assess compatibility with internal scenarios. It added that this staged introduction helps maintain quality standards while enabling early experimentation.
The integration expands Copilot Studio’s model catalogue, with both GPT-5.1 Chat and GPT-5.1 Reasoning now appearing as selectable options for users managing AI agents. Microsoft said the early access window provides an opportunity for customers to familiarise themselves with the technology ahead of future platform updates.
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The rollout reflects the company’s broader strategy of aligning its AI tools with rapid advances in large-scale models, while maintaining testing frameworks intended to minimise deployment risks.
Source: Microsoft