Microsoft office . Dec 13th 2024 . 7 Min read

What is Copilot Microsoft? A Detailed Guide to Features and Benefits

Microsoft Copilot is a generative AI-powered assistant developed by Microsoft, which is based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 and its own proprietary Prometheus models. It seamlessly integrates into Microsoft’s ecosystem, complementing productivity tools like Microsoft 365, Windows, and Edge with AI-enhanced functionalities. By providing advanced capabilities to both individuals and businesses in generating text, analysing data, crafting presentations, creating images, and many other features, Copilot assists users in multiple ways.

Why Copilot?

Copilot exemplifies Microsoft’s vision of an AI-powered environment. Copilot enables businesses and individuals to focus on creativity, strategy, and decision-making by automating time-consuming activities and providing real-time data.

The Evolution of Microsoft Copilot: From Cortana to Copilot

Copilot F1

Microsoft Copilot, introduced in 2023 to replace the retired Cortana, began as ‘Bing Chat,’ an AI chatbot incorporated into Microsoft Bing and Edge. By mid-2023, Microsoft had unified its branding across all its platforms under the name ‘Copilot,’ which underscored its role as a tool for increasing efficiency.

Key Milestones

February 2023: Launch of Bing Chat as a feature in Bing and Edge.
March 2023: Microsoft announced the Microsoft 365 Copilot for business tools like Word, Excel, and Teams.
October 2023: Bing Chat and Windows Copilot were rebranded as Microsoft Copilot.
2024 Updates: Copilot received a dedicated key on Windows keyboards and expanded its feature set with cutting-edge AI capabilities like voice interaction.

Initially introduced as Bing Chat, Copilot underwent significant development in 2023. It evolved from being a feature that was only available on Bing and Edge to becoming a vital component of the Microsoft ecosystem. Copilot today is a full-featured productivity package that can be used on cloud, mobile, and desktop platforms.

Key Features of Microsoft Copilot

1. Integration with Microsoft 365: Copilot enhances Microsoft 365 applications with intelligent AI features:

Word: Generate, edit, and summarize documents based on user prompts.

Excel: Format data, create pivot tables, identify trends, and suggest formulas.
PowerPoint: Design presentations, adjust layouts, and summarize data from Word and Excel files.
Outlook: Draft emails, summarize threads, and analyze email content.
Teams: Provide meeting summaries, action items, and real-time assistance during virtual meetings.

2. Windows Copilot: Integrated into Windows 11 and available from the taskbar, Windows Copilot reacts to voice requests and provides desktop assistance to help users manage tasks, files, and workflows. In addition, it offers contextual browsing, which gives you useful details about the websites you’re looking at in Edge.

3. Bing and Edge Enhancements: Copilot connects effortlessly with Bing and Edge to provide AI-enhanced search results, image generation via DALL-E, and real-time chat support.

4. Mobile and Multilingual Support: Accessibility across devices is ensured with standalone apps for iOS and Android. With its multilingual support and superior contextual translation capabilities, Copilot occasionally surpasses Google Translate.

5. Innovative Plugins: Copilot offers plugins for services such as Instacart, OpenTable, and Shopify, extending its functionality for e-commerce and productivity.

Technology Behind Microsoft Copilot

Copilot F2

Copilot is built on Microsoft Prometheus, which combines the following:

GPT Models: Includes GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo, and GPT-4o for high-performance AI processing.
Bing Search Integration: Combines web data with AI-generated content.
Microsoft Graph API: Uses contextual data from Microsoft 365 for accurate and user-specific results.

Privacy and Security Concerns

The recent introduction of features such as Recall, which capture frequent screenshots of user activity to facilitate the retrieval of historical data, has prompted privacy concerns. Being concerned about potential security threats, Microsoft has been advised by experts to prioritize user control and on-device processing for such features. Microsoft, though, promises users that data is not stored externally or used to train models during experimental previews.

Microsoft Copilot Pro: Premium Features

Copilot F3

Microsoft Copilot Pro, launched in January 2024, offers enhanced functionalities for $20 monthly. Subscribers have preferential access to new and advanced AI models like GPT-4 Turbo, functionalities to develop customized chatbots using Copilot GPT Builder, and preliminary access to experimental features in Copilot Labs. To see Copilot Pricing details, Click on the link – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/b/copilotpro

Comparison of Free vs. Premium Versions

Feature	Free Version	Premium (Copilot Pro)
AI Models Used	GPT-4	GPT-4 Turbo
Access to Advanced Features	Limited	Full Access
Image Generation	Basic Resolution	High Resolution
Custom Chatbots	Not Available	Available
Priority Support	Standard	Premium
Pricing	Free	$20/month

Limitations of Microsoft Copilot

Privacy Concerns: Features like Recall (which captures desktop screenshots) raised issues regarding user privacy.
Dependency on Internet: Most features require an active Internet connection for optimal performance.
Cost Barrier: Advanced features are locked behind the premium subscription.
Learning Curve: Users new to AI tools may require time to understand its full potential.

Troubleshooting Microsoft Copilot

Common Issues and Fixes

Copilot Not Responding: Ensure your device has an active internet connection and the latest updates installed.
Limited Functionality: Confirm you are logged in with the correct Microsoft account and check your subscription status.
Copilot Not Visible in Apps: Update Microsoft 365 apps to the latest version.
Privacy Concerns with Recall: Disable Recall in the settings to prevent capturing sensitive data.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Use Microsoft Copilot

Here’s how to get started with Microsoft Copilot across various platforms.

On Windows 11

1. Open Copilot:

Copilot F4

Copilot F5

Click the Copilot icon on the taskbar or press the dedicated Copilot key (available on newer keyboards).
Use voice commands to interact with Copilot.

2. Perform Tasks:

Ask Copilot to summarise documents, open apps, or provide information on active websites in Microsoft Edge.

In Microsoft 36

1. Word:

Click on the Copilot pane in the toolbar.
Give required commands or prompts.

2. Excel:

Access Copilot via the toolbar to format data, generate trends, or suggest formulas.

3. PowerPoint:

Use Copilot to summarise content from documents or adjust animations.

On Mobile

1. Download the Copilot App:

Available for both Android and iOS.

2. Log in with Your Microsoft Account:

Ensure your account has access to Microsoft Copilot.

Alternative Tools Compatible with Microsoft Copilot

Copilot F7

While it is versatile, some more alternatives or complementary tools that offer specialised capabilities are mentioned below:

ChatGPT: Known for its broad conversational abilities and creativity, it’s ideal for writing essays, coding help, and brainstorming ideas.
Notion AI: Deeply integrated with Notion for organising and summarising notes, it excels in project management and content planning.
GrammarlyGO: Offers AI-assisted writing and editing, perfect for creating polished and error-free content.
DALL-E 3 and MidJourney: Advanced in image generation, these tools are great for design and marketing campaigns.

Each tool complements Microsoft Copilot by bringing its unique strengths to various tasks and projects.

Comparing Copilot to ChatGPT

Performance: Microsoft Copilot demonstrates exceptional proficiency in contextual productivity and task-oriented support within the Microsoft environment. Despite being flexible and having strong conversational capabilities, ChatGPT does not have the same level of business tool integration as Copilot.
Translation Capabilities: Copilot has superior contextual accuracy compared to Google Translate, however, it falls marginally short of ChatGPT in handling complicated language tasks.

What Caused a Copilot to Show Up on My Computer?

The December 2023 update, which included Microsoft Copilot as a default feature in a number of installations, is likely the reason you have observed it recently on your Windows 11 device. Users can access it through the taskbar or the Copilot key on the latest keyboards.

Conclusion

With Copilot, Microsoft is extending its AI capabilities by incorporating cutting-edge models like GPT-4o. With features such as Copilot Voice and Copilot Labs, it is clear that Microsoft intends to make Copilot a vital productivity tool for both enterprises and people. To fully experience Copilot, try it in Windows, Microsoft 365, or as a stand-alone mobile app. Microsoft Copilot is designed to streamline your work and enhance your productivity, whether you are composing an email, analyzing data, or creating a presentation.

FAQs

What Does Copilot Microsoft Do?

It serves as an AI assistant to improve workflows, automate processes, and boost productivity throughout the Microsoft ecosystem.

Why has Copilot Appeared on My Computer?

Copilot is pre-installed on Windows 11 as part of Microsoft’s efforts to enhance productivity and efficiency using AI tools.

Is Microsoft Copilot Free?

The basic version is free, but additional capabilities require a Copilot Pro subscription ($20 per month).

Is Microsoft Copilot Better Than ChatGPT?

While ChatGPT is excellent for creative and broad conversational tasks, Copilot excels in productivity tasks due to its close integration with Microsoft applications.

What Does Microsoft Copilot Do?

Copilot is a flexible tool for both personal and professional use because of its features, which extend throughout the Microsoft ecosystem.

What are the benefits of Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot has numerous advantages that improve productivity by automating repetitive tasks, including data summary and email writing, thereby significantly reducing the time required for preparing documents, presentation, and spreadsheets.