Build 2020: Microsoft 365 gets a new Lists app, Project Cortex is coming this summer

Arif Bacchus

Microsoft 365

At Build 2020, Microsoft is announcing some updates for its Microsoft 365 subscription service. The company detailed a new Lists app which will offer new ways to track work, and also announced the availability of the Project Coretex service.

Not to be confused with Microsoft To-Do, the new Lists experience for Microsoft 365 is intended as an app to share and track information across all of the subscription service. Microsoft says that with lists, users will be able to track information such as workflow issues, contacts, issues tracking, and status reporting within Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook. There’s also a Lists mobile app on the way, too.

With Lists, users can enjoy templates and color formatting as well as alerts and standardize processes with a simple “if this then that” configurations. Lists will also integrate with Power Apps (forms) and Power Automate (workflow.)  In Microsoft’s words:

Microsoft Lists builds on more than 20 years of SharePoint list innovation, bringing these capabilities to a broader set of users across Microsoft 365. Microsoft Lists will simplify the user experience for those familiar with SharePoint Lists and for new users on any device.

As for Project Cortex, Microsoft says it will be launching in early summer of 2020. Previously announced at Ignite 2019, this service uses AI to organize enterprise data. It applies AI to the Microsoft Graph to create a knowledge network. Project Cortex will be the first new service in Microsoft 365 since Microsoft Teams launched.