Microsoft 365 Copilot for Teams: Bilingual consecutive interpretation mode with Interpreter agent

Updated October 26, 2026: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.

Introduction

Consecutive Interpretation is a new interpretation mode available as an add‑on to the existing Interpreter agent in Microsoft Teams. It enables structured multilingual conversations in meetings by providing shared, meeting‑level interpretation when enabled by a Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed user.

This mode uses consecutive (turn‑by‑turn) interpretation, meaning participants speak one at a time and each speaker's words are interpreted before the next speaker begins. This structured flow reduces overlap, improves interpretation accuracy, and helps everyone stay aligned in real time.

Consecutive Interpretation is ideal for back‑and‑forth, interactive discussions where participants need to respond, clarify, and build on each other’s input across languages, such as working sessions, negotiations, and cross‑functional collaboration.

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 557180.

When this will happen

• Targeted Release: Rollout begins in early May 2026 (previously early April) and is expected to complete by late May 2026 (previously mid-April).
• General Availability (Worldwide): Rollout begins in mid-November 2026 and is expected to complete by early December 2026.

How this will affect your organization

Who is affected

• All Microsoft 365 tenants using Microsoft Teams meetings where users are licensed with Microsoft 365 Copilot.

What will happen

• For tenants
  • The new Consecutive Interpretation mode extends the existing Interpreter agent to support structured, interactive multilingual meetings.
  • The existing Interpreter experience remains unchanged unless this new mode is enabled.
• For admins
  • No new tenant‑level configuration is required.
  • The feature is available to all users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
  • Existing compliance, privacy, and data‑handling policies for Interpreter continue to apply.
• For users
  • When a Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed user enables the mode, interpretation becomes a shared meeting‑level experience rather than an individual setting.
  • Participants speak consecutively, with each turn interpreted and delivered before the next participant begins.

What you need to do to prepare

• No action is required to maintain current behavior.
• Ensure any users who intend to use this mode have an active Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
• Consider providing guidance to users about when this mode is best suited (for example, working sessions, negotiations, or detailed multilingual collaboration).

Compliance considerations

No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.