Microsoft Copilot
The AI that works with you
How to harness the power of Copilot within your everyday tools
What is Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a new AI assistant and productivity tool that, as the name suggests, works across the Microsoft 365 portfolio to help users with their daily work.
The AI can pull from Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Office emails, and other Microsoft 365 apps to gather data in real time, using natural language processing to understand and execute tasks.
The Copilot System, which powers the AI, is a processing and orchestration engine that uses Large Language Models, data in the Microsoft Graph (which contains data like a user’s emails, files, and chats), and the Microsoft 365 apps, all through natural language processing. (While Microsoft has invested heavily in ChatGPT, that’s only a piece of what makes Copilot work.)
Microsoft states that Copilot is built with a comprehensive approach to security, compliance, privacy, and responsible AI to make sure that it’s secure and ready for enterprise use.
How can you use Copilot?
Users feed Copilot prompts through a command in the app they’re using, which the AI then carries out within Microsoft 365. Once Copilot creates a draft, users can keep it as is, request adjustments, edit it themselves, or have Copilot start again from scratch. This is designed to help automate tasks, compile information, and provide users with good starting points for their projects while still making sure that humans have the final say.
Copilot can also edit existing documents or sections. This goes beyond a spelling and grammar check and can include entire rewrites to make sections more concise or incorporate new data.
In the introductory video, Microsoft demonstrated several uses for Copilot, including:
- Preparing for upcoming meetings based on information from notes and emails
- Creating a product announcement in Microsoft Word
- Transforming a Word document into a PowerPoint presentation
- Analysing data from an Excel spreadsheet
- Drafting emails in Microsoft Office
- Providing meeting notes and summaries in Microsoft Teams
Copilot is designed to carry out tasks within all of Microsoft 365’s apps, and can carry data between each app. So, if a user needs to pull information from an Excel spreadsheet for an Outlook email, Copilot can do that.
Copilot in Word
Copilot in Word ushers in a new era of writing, leveraging the power of AI. It can help you go from a blank page to a finished document in a fraction of the time it would take to compose text on your own. While it may write exactly what you need, sometimes it may be “usefully wrong,” thus giving you some helpful inspiration. Additionally, Copilot Chat can provide helpful actions based on your document content or obtain additional content from outside resources. If you’re looking for something more generic, beyond what’s in your draft, you can ask Copilot Chat questions to research, ideate, or iterate on possible content to add.
Here’s how you can use Copilot in Word:
1. Draft with Copilot:
- Whether you’re creating a new document or working on an existing one, Copilot can help you move forward.
- In a new, blank document or upon creating a new line in an existing document, the Draft with Copilot experience appears.
- Provide a description, which can be a simple sentence or a more complex request with outlines, notes, or referenced files that you want Copilot to use.
- For users with a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license, the “Reference your content” button allows you to search for and include up to three of your existing files as inputs to ground the content Copilot drafts.
- Upon proceeding, Copilot will generate and display new content accordingly. You can keep it, discard it, or direct Copilot to regenerate for a different version.
- You can also fine-tune Copilot’s response by entering details on how you’d like it to change.
- In a document with existing content, you can use the “Inspire Me” button to have Copilot automatically keep writing based on the content already in your document.
2.Transform with Copilot:
- Sometimes rewriting and editing your documents takes more time and thought than writing your ideas down in the first place.
- Copilot not only helps you create new content but also transforms your existing content into a document you can be proud of.
- It can rewrite your text, including adjustments for tone, and even transform your text into an editable table.
Copilot in Microsoft Powerpoint
Copilot in PowerPoint is a powerful tool that collaborates with you to create, edit, understand, and organise presentations using the magic of AI.
Here’s how you can make the most of it:
1. Draft with Copilot:
- When starting a new presentation, give Copilot a topic, and it will generate a draft presentation for you. It’s like having an AI co-author!
- If you need a quick summary of a longer presentation, let Copilot summarize the key points for you.
- To restructure your slides, allow Copilot to make changes, and decide if they work for you.
2. Customise with Your Branding:
- Copilot can help you build a presentation by generating slides or images with your organization’s branding. It’s like having a design assistant!
- Want to add a relevant image to a slide? Just ask Copilot.
- Explore different prompts to get exactly what you want.
3. Mobile Version Available:
- Copilot in PowerPoint is also available on your mobile device. Use it to quickly review a deck and generate a summary.
Copilot in Excel
Copilot in Excel is a remarkable tool that collaborates with you to enhance your data analysis, comprehension, and visualisation.
Let’s explore how it can assist you:
1. Draft with Copilot:
- When creating formula columns, Copilot can suggest formulas for complex calculations.
- It helps you effortlessly highlight, filter, and sort your data.
- If you’re starting a new presentation, provide a topic, and Copilot will generate a draft presentation for you.
2. Identify Insights:
- Copilot analyses and visualizes your data, making it easier to understand.
- It can help you identify trends, outliers, and patterns in your data.
3. Customise with Your Branding:
- Need slides or images with your organisation’s branding? Copilot can generate them for you.
- Ask for relevant images to enhance your presentation.
4. Mobile Version Available:
- Access Copilot in Excel on your mobile device to review decks and generate summaries.
Copilot in Outlook
Copilot in Outlook is a remarkable virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms. Its primary objective is to assist users in handling emails, scheduling meetings, and organising their daily workflow.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Availability:
- Copilot is currently available in the new Outlook (for Windows and Mac) and in Outlook on the web.
- Microsoft plans to extend support to the classic Outlook desktop for Windows in the future.
2. Supported Accounts:
- Copilot works with work and school accounts as well as Microsoft accounts registered to the following email addresses: outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com, and msn.com.
- If your Microsoft account is associated with a third-party email provider (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud), you won’t have access to Copilot features in Outlook.
3. Activation:
- To enable Copilot in Outlook, follow these steps:
- Get a Microsoft 365 subscription: Ensure you have a Microsoft 365 subscription (e.g., Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Business).
- Choose a Copilot plan: Select the Copilot plan that aligns with your Microsoft 365 subscription and purchase the Copilot subscription.
- Install the new Outlook: Install the new Outlook and create an account using the same email address as your Copilot subscription.
- To enable Copilot in Outlook, follow these steps:
4. Using Copilot in Outlook:
- When composing an email:
- Click Home > New Mail to create a new message.
- Click the Draft with Copilot link in the email body.
- In the Copilot box, type your prompt or outline the key points for the email.
- You can adjust the tone and length parameters by clicking the Generation options button in the bottom left of the dialog box123.
Copilot in Teams
Unlock productivity with Copilot in Teams meetings to have more effective meetings or catch up on ones you missed.
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