Microsoft Teams Insider Microsoft Places in 2026: APIs, Desk Booking, and Copilot Context
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Jan 21, 2026 Brennan McReynolds, Product Strategy Lead for Microsoft Places, shares key insights on the evolution of Microsoft Places one year after its launch. He discusses how Places enhances flexible work planning with Microsoft Calendar and Teams, focusing on in-person collaboration over universal desk booking. Brennan highlights the integration of spatial data and occupancy signals, demonstrating how this supports future Copilot experiences. He also explains the functionality of the Places directory and the Graph APIs in managing workspace environments.
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Location Context Enables Better Collaboration
- Places supports flexible work by surfacing location context in Calendar and Teams to help people plan where they'll be.
- This spatial context focuses on enabling in-person connection and collaboration rather than universal desk booking.
Plugging In Triggers Check-In
- Brennan described reserving a desk next to a colleague and plugging into a monitor to trigger check-in and location updates.
- That simple act updates team location and builds confidence in the day's workspace.
Desk Booking Is About Supply And Demand
- Desk booking solves supply-and-demand in workplaces but isn't required for every employee or team.
- The core goal is confidence in having a place that enables meaningful in-person collaboration.