Microsoft Copilot: Everything you need to know about Microsoft’s AI

Copilot is Microsoft’s innovative approach to enhancing productivity through generative AI, aligning with its expansive AI ambitions. Today, there are about a dozen Copilot-branded products integrated into various Microsoft software and services, offering features like summarizations in Microsoft Outlook and transcriptions in Microsoft Teams.

In addition to these, Microsoft also offers GitHub Copilot for code generation and a general-purpose Copilot on Windows and the web, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

This post will explore the different Microsoft Copilot products, their functionalities, and highlight the distinctions between them.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat, is embedded in Microsoft’s search engine Bing, as well as Windows 10, Windows 11, and the Microsoft Edge sidebar. Some newer PCs even feature a dedicated keyboard key for launching Copilot. Additionally, there are stand-alone Copilot apps for Android and iOS, and an in-app Telegram room.

Powered by fine-tuned versions of OpenAI’s models, Copilot can perform a wide range of tasks described in natural language, such as writing poems and essays, translating text, and summarizing web sources. It also provides up-to-date information by browsing the web via Bing, although it occasionally makes mistakes.

Copilot can create images using Microsoft’s Image Creator, built on OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model, and generate songs through an integration with the AI music-generation platform Suno. For instance, typing “Create an image of a zebra” or “Generate a song with a jazz rhythm” in Copilot will activate the relevant tool.

Copilot supports plug-ins for third-party apps and websites, including Instacart for meal planning, Kayak for trip planning, OpenTable for restaurant reservations, and Shopify, among others.

Which Windows settings can Copilot control?

On Windows 11, Copilot can control certain settings and functions, acting as a digital concierge.

Users can type or use speech recognition to perform actions like turning the battery saver on or off, displaying device and system information, launching live captions, showing the PC’s IP address, and emptying the recycle bin. A toggle in the Copilot interface switches between “Work” and “Web” mode, with the former integrating Copilot’s Microsoft 365 capabilities.

What is Copilot Pro?

Copilot Pro, priced at $20 per month, offers premium features similar to other generative AI chatbot plans. Subscribers get priority access to the most capable OpenAI models, exclusive features like higher-resolution images from Image Creator, and access to generative AI functions across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

Copilot Pro subscribers receive 100 daily “boosts” in Image Creator and access to generative AI functions across the Microsoft 365 desktop apps for those with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan. However, Copilot Pro does not include Copilot in Teams, which is reserved for enterprise Copilot customers.

What is Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Copilot for Microsoft 365, priced at $30 per user per month, is available to customers with specific Microsoft 365 licenses.

It offers similar capabilities as Copilot Pro but includes enterprise-grade data protection and the Semantic Index for more personalized responses. It integrates into Microsoft 365 apps to assist with tasks like formatting Excel data or generating PowerPoint presentations.

List of Copilot Products and Their Skills:

• Copilot in Power Pages: Generates text, forms, chatbots, and web page layouts.
• Copilot for Sales: Assists with email responses and sales-related tasks.
• Copilot in Microsoft Supply Chain Center: Flags issues affecting supply chains.
• Copilot for Service: Drafts answers to customer queries and assists customer service agents.
• Copilot for Azure: Suggests configurations and helps with troubleshooting.
• Copilot for Security: Summarizes cyber threat intelligence.
• Copilot in Fabric: Helps with data visualization and transformation.
• Copilot in Intune: Manages security policies and device issues.
• Team Copilot: Manages meeting agendas and tasks in Teams.