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AI Features Hiding in Your Software

Nearly three in ten UK businesses now use AI, yet most are still ignoring the features already switched on inside tools like Xero and Microsoft 365 Copilot. This issue covers what’s new from Xero, Microsoft Copilot Cowork and Claude Sonnet 5, plus an honest review of Brave Leo AI and the regulator survey now looking at how financial firms use AI.

Prompt Engineer

Most business software already includes AI features you’re paying for and not using. This prompt gets your AI tool to check what’s included in your existing subscriptions, what tier you need to unlock it, and which feature would actually save you the most time.

Act as a UK-based software and AI adoption advisor for small businesses.

I use the following business software: [list your main business software, e.g. Xero, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace]

For each tool, tell me:

  • Which AI features are currently included
  • Which pricing tier or plan I need to access them
  • What each feature actually does, in plain English

My main day-to-day task that takes up the most time is: [describe your main day-to-day task, e.g. invoicing, reporting, email]

Based on this, recommend the single AI feature I already have access to (or could access with a plan upgrade) that would save me the most time on this task.

Format: present your answer as a table of tools and features, followed by one clear recommendation.

AI Updates Roundup

This week’s numbers confirm what many of you already suspect: AI is an everyday business tool.

Overview

  • Nearly three in ten UK businesses now use AI, and the gap with larger firms is widening.
  • Financial regulators have launched a fresh survey into how banks and insurers are using AI.

Nearly three in ten UK businesses now use at least one AI tool, up eight points on last year, ONS data shows.

  • So what? AI adoption has become mainstream, so standing still now means risking falling behind.

The Bank of England and FCA have opened a survey into how financial firms use AI, including generative and agentic models.

  • So what? If you use fintech tools or seek business finance, expect more transparency about how AI shapes decisions.

“Text generation using large language models was the most common AI application, used by 17% of UK businesses in June 2026.” – Office for National Statistics

AI Updates Roundup

This week’s AI updates all point the same way: the tools you already pay for are quietly getting smarter, so check what’s switched on before you buy something new.

Overview

  • Xero now feeds live financial data into Microsoft 365 Copilot and added free benchmarking against UK peers.
  • Microsoft Copilot Cowork can handle longer multi-step tasks, with an introductory UK price ending 30 September.
  • Claude Sonnet 5 became Anthropic’s default model with cheaper API pricing until 31 August, a good window to test it.

Xero brings AI into your existing workflow. From 1 July, Xero JAX pulls live balances and overdue invoices straight into Microsoft 365 Copilot, so no more exporting reports before you can ask questions about them. Xero also launched Industry Benchmarks, comparing your margins and debtor days against anonymised UK peers.

Tip: If you already run Xero, check your dashboard before paying for a separate benchmarking tool. This one’s free.

Microsoft’s Copilot just got a lot more ambitious. Copilot Cowork went generally available on 16 June and can now handle longer, multi-step tasks across Word, Excel and Outlook rather than one prompt at a time. There’s an introductory UK price of £13.80 a user a month, but that offer ends 30 September.

Tip: Trial it before the price rises, but usage is billed separately so set a budget alert.

Claude Sonnet 5 became the default model across Anthropic’s platform on 30 June, with introductory API pricing running until 31 August. Good timing if you or your developer have been meaning to test AI on a specific business task.

Tip: If you’ve been AI-curious but not AI-active, this window is a cheap way to actually try something.

The Takeaway 🚀

Pick one tool you already pay for (Xero or Microsoft 365 are the safest bets) and spend 20 minutes this week checking what AI features are already switched on. You may be sitting on capability you haven’t used yet.

Quick Review: Brave Leo AI 🦁

Brave Leo is a free AI assistant built directly into the Brave browser that reads and answers questions about whatever page you’re viewing, from PDFs to Google Docs. For UK SMEs already using Brave, it’s a genuinely private alternative to bolting ChatGPT onto every tab, though it currently has no admin controls or team accounts for business rollout.

Key Takeaways

What’s Good ✅:

  • Reads the page or document you’re viewing and answers questions in context
  • Free tier works with no account or login needed
  • Premium adds Claude and GPT-4 access with no chats stored or used for training

What’s Less Good ❌:

  • No team accounts or admin controls for business use
  • No live chat or dedicated support line
  • Only works within the Brave browser

Impact on Your Business 📈: For sole traders and small teams already browsing in Brave, Leo removes the need to copy text into a separate AI chat window just to summarise a report or draft a reply. It’s less suited to businesses needing shared oversight or audit trails, since there’s currently no way to manage it centrally across a team.

Financial ROI 💰: The free tier alone can replace casual use of a paid chatbot for summarising articles or drafting quick emails. Premium adds access to stronger models at a lower monthly cost than most standalone AI subscriptions, useful if your team is Brave-based and doesn’t need enterprise controls.

Price Point 💳: Has a free tier. Leo Premium is approximately £12 per month or £118 billed annually, with a 7 day free trial.

Upcoming Events & Conferences 📅

For tech and telecoms suppliers bidding into the government’s NS4 framework, this drop-in session covers final proposals and takes live feedback.

Useful for suppliers selling digital and AI services into local government, this techUK-hosted session helps shape upcoming procurement.

  • Big Data LDN 2026📊
    • Date: 23–24 September 2026
    • Location: Olympia, London
    • Cost: Free

The UK’s biggest data and AI event, with over 400 sessions and a dedicated track on AI agents and governance, worth booking early as it fills up fast.

Training & Skills Development 🎓

Built for risk, compliance and cyber leads in financial services who want to strengthen their defences against AI-enabled fraud and impersonation.

A jargon-free look at what AI agents actually do in day-to-day operations, aimed at aerospace, defence and security leaders weighing up secure deployment.

For legal and risk leads who need a clear steer on UK AI principles, shadow AI and what it means for procurement and contracts.

Aimed at accountants and finance leads wanting a tighter grip on supplier due diligence and data protection when using AI tools.