New chat functionality for Teams meetings
Microsoft has announced a change to how participants interact during video calls and digital meetings. Currently, Teams provides a single chat window where all participants can post messages. This main chat is visible to everyone invited to the meeting.
Starting in late 2026, Microsoft plans to introduce 'side conversations'. This feature will allow a user to start a separate, private conversation with one other person or a small subset of the attendees without leaving the meeting window.
Reducing context switching
At present, if two colleagues need to discuss a specific point privately during a meeting, they must navigate away from the meeting screen to the standard Teams 'Chat' tab. This is known as context switching—the process of jumping between different apps or windows, which can lead to a loss of focus.
By integrating these smaller discussions into the meeting interface, Microsoft aims to keep users within the same view. These side chats are intended for coordinating next steps, asking clarifying questions, or sharing specific documents with a limited group while the main presentation continues.
Timeline and availability
According to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, this feature is scheduled for General Availability (GA) in November 2026. It is important to note that Microsoft often adjusts these dates based on development progress.
Ark Assist cannot yet confirm the specific licensing requirements for this feature, though it is expected to be included in standard Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium subscriptions. We also do not yet know what administrative controls will be available to disable this feature if a business prefers to keep all meeting communication in the public thread for transparency or compliance reasons.
Preparing for the change
For most small and medium businesses in the UK, no immediate technical action is required. However, management should be aware that this change may alter the dynamic of internal meetings. When the feature arrives, private discussions will be easier to conduct, which may affect how information is shared and recorded during company calls.