Power BI Update - August 2025

Summary

In this month’s Power BI update, Patrick LeBlanc highlights exciting new features, previews, and community achievements. Key updates include Copilot-powered measure descriptions, Direct Lake model integration with Azure Databricks, filtered report summaries in the standalone Copilot experience, organizational apps for Pro workspaces, enhanced Power Query editing, semantic model refresh templates, and the new Impala connector 2.0. The video features demos by Zoe, Carly, and Grace, showing these updates in action. Additionally, the community spotlight celebrates Arwa, a Super User and founder of Sudan’s first Power BI community. Viewers are encouraged to try the new features, share feedback, and stay engaged with Power BI’s ongoing developments.

Takeaways

• 🎉 FabCon is coming to Vienna, Austria from September 15–18, featuring tutorials, sessions, and a swag-filled Power Hour. Use code FABCOMM to save €200.
• 🤖 Copilot can now automatically generate clear and helpful DAX measure descriptions, improving report clarity and collaboration.
• 💻 Power BI Desktop now supports creating Direct Lake models from mirrored Azure Databricks catalogs and OneLake tables, enhancing data integration.
• 🔍 The standalone Copilot experience can dynamically apply relevant filters to your queries, providing precise insights without manually adjusting the report.
• 🏢 Pro workspace users can now create and distribute multiple organizational apps, tailored to different groups, without needing Premium or Fabric SKUs.
• ⚡ Editing data models in the Power BI service has improved error handling in Power Query and added support for native queries, offering more control.
• ⏱️ Semantic model refresh templates using Fabric data pipelines allow automated, low-code orchestration of model refreshes, including event-driven and scheduled scenarios.
• 🛠️ Impala Connector 2.0 preview uses Arrow Database Connectivity (ADBC) for better performance, security, and easier maintenance in SQL integrations.
• 🌟 Community highlight: Arwa, a Super User and founder of Sudan's first Microsoft Fabric & Power BI community, promotes accessibility, clarity, and skill-building.
• 📌 Call to action: Try out new features, consult documentation, provide feedback, stay updated via Power BI community forums, and engage with upcoming demos and topics.

Q & A

Who is presenting the Power BI August update and what is his role?

Patrick LeBlanc is presenting the update. He is a Principal Program Manager on the Azure Data Team at Microsoft.

What is FabCon Europe, and when and where will it take place?

FabCon Europe is a Power BI and Microsoft Fabric community event featuring tutorials, sessions, and networking opportunities. It will take place in Vienna, Austria, from September 15 to 18.

What is the GA feature highlighted in this update?

The GA (Generally Available) feature highlighted is Copilot for measure descriptions, which allows users to automatically generate clear and helpful descriptions for DAX measures.

What new capabilities does Direct Lake in Power BI Desktop provide?

Direct Lake allows users to connect to mirrored Azure Databricks catalogs, add Direct Lake tables into semantic models, and combine data from multiple sources within OneLake, improving integration and analytics.

How does the new standalone Copilot feature enhance filtered report summaries?

The standalone Copilot now intelligently applies relevant filters to user questions, providing accurate answers even if the original report does not have those filters applied.

What changes have been made to organizational apps in Pro workspaces?

Users can now create and distribute multiple organizational apps per workspace without needing a Fabric SKU or Premium capacity, allowing tailored experiences for different groups or teams.

What improvements have been made to editing data models in the Power BI service?

Power Query now has improved error handling, allowing users to retry failed queries without starting over, and supports native queries for more flexible data source connections.

What are semantic model refresh templates, and how are they used?

Semantic model refresh templates automate the refresh of semantic models using Fabric data pipelines. Users can select templates for scenarios like event-driven, scheduled, or multi-model refreshes and configure them with minimal coding.

What updates were introduced with the Impala connector 2.0?

The Impala connector 2.0 now uses Arrow Database Connectivity (ADBC) for better performance, security, and maintenance, and includes a streamlined SQL generator for efficient integration.

Who is Arwa, and why is she highlighted in this update?

Arwa is a Power BI community member and Microsoft Super User. She founded Sudan’s first Microsoft Fabric and Power BI community and has contributed extensively through solutions, replies, blogs, and user group leadership.

What calls to action does the video recommend for viewers?

Viewers are encouraged to try new features, provide feedback, refer to documentation for detailed guidance, engage with the Power BI community forums, and participate in upcoming updates.

What is the registration code for FabCon Europe and what benefit does it provide?

The registration code is FABCOMM, which provides a €200 discount for attendees.