Lucas R. Haines
Selected work

Microsoft 365 Copilot: first PM, then leading Core UX

When
2022–now
Problem
In late 2022, large language models could suddenly hold a real conversation. The open question was what an assistant at work should look like: grounded in a company's own data, and trusted by enterprises.
My role
First PM assigned to the initiative that became Microsoft 365 Copilot (Business Chat). After launch, led UI/UX for Core UX (navigation, session history, input, grounding and the app shell) with a group of peers who later became my direct reports.
Result
Idea to revenue in nine months. Microsoft has since reported more than 30 million paid Microsoft 365 Copilot seats (July 2026).

From spec to launch

We went from concept and specification in December 2022, through prototyping and early preview delivery, to the public announcement on March 16, 2023, and from idea to revenue in nine months. I worked alongside research, engineering and leadership from the first spec.

Leading Core UX after launch

After launch I kept leading the UI/UX for Copilot’s Core UX: the app shell, navigation, session history, input and grounding. These are the parts every person touches in every conversation. I led that work with a group of peer PMs, partnering closely with Design and Engineering, and that group eventually became my direct reports.

Quality was part of the job, not a phase at the end. Customer research fed design changes and a phased roadmap, and features went through accessibility, privacy and security review before they shipped.