Microsoft 365 Expands AI Sharing Benefit, But Trims Cloud Storage

Microsoft has announced two major changes to its Microsoft 365 Family and Premium plans, and both have drawn sharply contrasting reactions from subscribers.

For Microsoft 365 subscribers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, the key change to watch is the shared 2TB OneDrive cap. Regional plan prices aren't verified in the available information, so check your account's renewal terms before making a decision.

First up, Microsoft has informed Family and Premium subscribers that they will soon be able to share their Copilot and AI benefits with up to five other members, The Verge reports. When the benefits were added to the plans last year, only the subscription owner could use the AI features. Microsoft’s support page still says its AI benefits "cannot be shared with others," but an email sent to customers notes that shared AI benefits will roll out over the coming months.

Alongside this expansion of benefits, however, Microsoft also announced that OneDrive storage benefits for Microsoft 365 Family and Premium plans will shrink next year. Previously, each member of a plan could get 1TB of storage, bringing the possible total to 6TB per subscription. Going forward, both plans are capped at 2TB of shared storage, with “the primary subscriber and up to five additional members draw[ing] from the same shared storage pool.”

The shared-pool system is meant “to provide a more flexible experience,” and it won’t allow members to view each other’s files, Microsoft says.

For existing subscribers, the change will take effect on the first subscription renewal after May 2, 2027. The reduced storage is unlikely to result in lower subscription prices. Microsoft 365’s Family Plan is currently $129.99 per year, while the Premium Plan is $199.99 per year.

Unsurprisingly, users aren’t happy with the move. “The MS family package is the only thing that connects me with the microslop. Time to say goodbye and move the family to the NAS,” wrote one user on Reddit. “More likely a 'flexible experience' for MS itself—increase margins with those that are willing to pay and get rid of those that are just parking data with them,” wrote another in response.

For now, no action is required on your end. “We’ll email you with more details before each change takes effect,” Microsoft writes in the email.

Microsoft 365 pricing and availability in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

The available information doesn't confirm Microsoft 365 Family or Premium prices in AED, SAR, or EGP, or a separate Middle East rollout schedule. The announced storage change is set to apply to existing subscribers at their first renewal after May 2, 2027. Check your Microsoft account for your local price and renewal date; tbreak.com has more on the shared AI benefits and storage change.