An introduction to Microsoft Copilot

Advancements in artificial intelligence are taking the world by storm. Artificial intelligence, or AI, is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities. Nowadays, AI in some form is baked into a lot of the professional software and applications we use daily. Software can generate useful information based on different inputs, and in some cases even “learn”, giving you better responses the more you use it.

You may have heard of ChatGPT or DALL-E, systems developed by Open AI that marked significant leaps forward in generative AI. In exciting news, Microsoft recently released its AI offering – Copilot. Incorporating impressive tech from Open AI and built with a seamless user experience in mind, Copilot is your new AI assistant for work.

This article will cover what Copilot is, a selection of the different types and versions available to use, and a few different ways that you might use it to save you valuable time and effort. We’ll expand on this article over the coming weeks and months, featuring more information on the service, a whole host of Bite-size Bulletins to act as your guide to all things Copilot, and even an exciting event later this year – so watch this space!

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is your AI assistant for work. Using AI, Copilot works seamlessly alongside you by integrating into your Microsoft 365 products, from Edge and Teams through to Outlook and Excel. Copilot seeks to increase productivity and creativity, so you can free up time to focus on what matters.

Now for the slightly techy explanation… Copilot, like ChatGPT and similar systems, is a “large language model”, commonly referred to as an LLM. This essentially means a system that has been trained on gigantic data sets made up of “human language” examples. Thus, the program can understand prompts entered by users and respond in a grammatically-correct, logical way. As a 365 product, Copilot is guided by use-case specific information, meaning that you receive relevant information depending on the program you’re using and what you’re trying to achieve.

In some versions of Copilot, you can also build your own “GPTs”, meaning “Generative Pre-trained Transformers”. These are tailored to your individual needs and interests, where you can add your own custom instructions, give the program particular specialist knowledge, and assign different skillsets so that you can tailor the service even more precisely to each task. This can make the app even more helpful in your day-to-day work life once you’ve mastered the art of creating GPTs.

We won’t go any deeper into the behind-the-scenes tech, and there are some other considerations to be aware of from a security standpoint like making sure you’re aware of who has access to what data, but the bottom line is that Microsoft Copilot is your AI partner that helps you do better work, quicker. AI has promised, or perhaps threatened, a lot, but it’s not going to do your work for you, or heaven forbid “take your job”. It’s your Copilot, and you’re still very much in charge of the plane, but it can improve your productivity, your creativity, and make some of the annoying yet necessary tasks a little more manageable.

So, how can you get your hands on it? Well there are a few different versions to be aware of, and various tasks they can help you with.

The various versions of Copilot

The free versions of Copilot run on a slightly older language model, which means responses are a little slower and answers generally aren’t as sophisticated as you might find in the paid version of Copilot. Nevertheless, they are still a great way to experience what Copilot has to offer and familiarise yourself with the features.

Web and Edge extension

Copilot Web is a chat software that you can ask questions and give prompts, similar in functionality to the likes of ChatGPT. The Edge extension has the same capabilities, and you can access it any time you’re using Edge without leaving your current webpage.

Check out the overview of features below – we used Copilot to help us write this bullet-point list, and fortunately it knows itself pretty well!

1. Chat software
   • Copilot Web and the Edge extension allow you to ask questions and provide prompts.
   • Get quick answers, troubleshoot, or brainstorm ideas, for example for work events and marketing ideas.
2. Composer
   • Copilot’s built-in composer helps you write or rewrite emails and other text in the desired tone.
   • Draft social media content and spark creative ideas.
   • Generate images based on your prompts (keep it simple for best results).
3. Edge extension extras
   • The Edge extension can summarise complex webpages or PDFs for key information.
   • Ask Edge Copilot about page content to find specific details or understand concepts.

Desktop version

The final free version is the free Windows desktop version of Copilot. You need one of the latest versions of Windows 11 (23H2 November, to be precise), so make sure you’re fully updated before trying to find Copilot on your machine, else you might be looking for a while! Once you’re up to date, you should see Copilot on your taskbar. If you can’t see it, right click your taskbar, click on Taskbar Settings, and make sure Copilot is checked “On”. If you still can’t see it or don’t have this setting, please note that this may be managed by your IT support company and they can restrict or block access. Please speak to your manager in the first instance or try this out on a personal machine.

This version can do everything the Web and Edge versions can and more – bar integrating into your browser! Not only can it answer standard prompts, but it is also designed to answer questions about Windows features, settings, and shortcuts. If you’ve got a particular option in mind that you can’t find in settings and want to turn on or off, just ask Copilot where to find it, or even get it to perform the task for you. Whilst it’s always good to know where certain settings are, Copilot can help you skip the arduous steps so you can carry on with your work uninterrupted. The desktop Copilot can also do more complex tasks like help you edit documents, check your grammar, or even assist you with coding!

Interested? Great! Take the free versions for a spin today and delegate those menial tasks to your new Copilot to improve your productivity and creativity.

Enjoying the free versions but want to take it further and explore more of what Copilot has to offer? Let’s get on to the paid version.

Copilot 365 – the paid version

Copilot for Office 365 is a paid licence product that integrates into your existing Microsoft environment. Over the coming weeks and months, we’ll be helping you navigate Copilot and get the most out of the service with tips, tricks, and guides, as well as an event later this year – so watch this space!

Copilot 365 improves upon many of the features from the free versions and includes features and functions that aren’t available on the free versions. With the paid version, you get better performance and priority access to the best language models with faster and more sophisticated responses. Copilot 365 also seamlessly integrates into your 365 productivity apps like Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, allowing you to perform tasks with the help of Copilot directly inside each program.

Check out the list that we generated with Copilot for a look at the best features it has to offer:

1. Creative writing assistance
   • Copilot helps compose emails, blog posts, essays, and more.
   • It suggests tone, style, and content improvements.
2. Domain-specific knowledge
   • Copilot provides context-aware information related to specific fields (e.g. programming, science, history).
   • It assists with technical jargon and terminology.
3. Multilingual support
   • Copilot can respond in multiple languages, including English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and more.
   • It adapts to users preferences.
4. Task automation
   • Copilot automates repetitive tasks by generating code snippets or text.
   • It saves time and boosts productivity.
5. Advanced code generation
   • Copilot generates high-quality code snippets for various programming languages and frameworks.
   • It assists with complex tasks, debugging, and refactoring.

Want to dip your toe in?

Whilst a licence for Copilot 365 allows you to do a lot more than the free versions, it’s a significant commitment – there’s currently no monthly commitment version and the licence will set you back around £300 a year (it can be paid for monthly, but you must commit for 12 months minimum). Reasonable if you know you’ll get the most out of it, but quite expensive if you’re not yet sure if it’s for you!

Whilst Teams Premium isn’t Copilot for Teams, it includes a sample of the Teams features for a fraction of the price, and you can get it on a monthly commitment to experiment. This is a great way to dip your toe into the world of AI and see how it improves your productivity and gives you back vital time.

Microsoft Teams Premium offers several features that enhance meetings, webinars, and virtual appointments – below are some examples of Teams Premium features that were generated by Copilot (and refined by us):

1. AI-powered meetings
   • AI-powered recaps that summarise meeting content, helping participants focus on key information.
   • Timeline markers in recordings based on your interactions during the meeting.
2. Advanced webinars and live events
   • Host webinars and live events with behind-the-scenes tools and customisable email invites.
   • Optimise video streaming for town halls with up to 20,000 attendees.
3. Enhanced security and protection
   • Teams Premium offers advanced meeting protection features.
   • Safeguard confidential information during collaboration.
4. Customisation and branding
   • Use branded organisational backgrounds in meetings and events.
   • Customise your Teams experience to align with your organisation’s standards.
5. Virtual appointments
   • Teams Premium enables advanced virtual appointments with SMS notifications.
   • Ideal for one-on-one consultations or virtual sessions.

Interested? Get in touch

If we’ve piqued your interest in Copilot or Teams Premium, get in touch today for more information and learn how we can help you get started on your journey with AI. Make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming tips and tricks that will help you master Copilot!