Want to know how Copilot, Microsoft’s AI, works ? Here’s how to generate code, answer questions, and get more done with Office.
The ease with which we can access Artificial Intelligence tools allows us to create images, searches and much more in just a few seconds by exploiting the database of giants such as Google , OpenAI and Microsoft . Among the most interesting tools is certainly ChatGPT , now the point of reference for users who want to experiment with this technology.
In addition to recommending an alternative to ChatGPT , today we want to analyze in more detail Copilot, the solution offered by Microsoft that seems to be able to have its say in such a thrilling historical moment for AI. Let’s see what it is, what you can do and how to best use Copilot.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
When we refer to Microsoft Copilot we mean an AI ( Artificial Intelligence )-based assistance tool designed by Microsoft to improve productivity by typing specific questions in a chat.
The model integrated into Copilot is largely based on GPT , taking advantage of its machine learning and language processing capabilities to provide users with real-time assistance. Just like Chat, GPT draws from a very large database , but with Copilot you will benefit from more up-to-date information, even in real time .
You may have already heard of Bing Chat , the digital tool launched by Microsoft a few years ago, with which you can access Copilot; but the company itself has decided to integrate this tool into its entire ecosystem, extending its potential to more applications that we usually use on the operating system.
As you might guess, Microsoft has decided to develop a productivity solution that you can access from the Microsoft Edge web browser , Microsoft 365 , or the official mobile app .
What does Copilot do and how does it work?
So, we have established that Microsoft Copilot is nothing more than a virtual assistant based on GPT , but that allows you to draw from a more up-to-date database. What can you actually do with Copilot?
After connecting to the official Copilot website , you will notice that one of the most interesting features of this tool is its ability to respond in real time ; in fact, you can ask for any information, except explicit or fraudulent topics, and get precise and up-to-date answers.
As well as getting automatic content generation , such as texts , documents , emails , creative stories and images . In the latter case, Copilot relies on the DALL-E 3 tool to create images from the directions you provide in the chat. You can also plan trips , edit documents with Office 365 applications and integrate other applications such as WhatsApp , Telegram and more.
Many users also rely on Copilot to take advantage of its ability to translate into other languages ; in fact, the multilingual support is excellent, whether you prefer to write in Italian, English or other languages. The Artificial Intelligence will automatically adapt to your requests and will allow you to translate and inform you in the language you prefer at that moment .
As you may have noticed from the features, Copilot works very similarly to other chatbots; you just need to write the question on the topic you find useful and you will receive an automatic response from the AI. You can optimize your work by asking for scripts , itineraries , summaries or simply update your resume and edit a Word file thanks to Office 365 .
Creating an account on Copilot t will give you customization , image creation and photo sharing , easy access , data saving and syncing, personalized support , use of Copilot Voice and more security and privacy controls . You will be able to access your data from any device without interruption, easily resuming your activities. Additionally, having an account ensures secure management of your data , protecting your privacy .
How to Install Copilot on PC and Mobile Devices
You can use AI Copilot on your smartphone, tablet or computer with great ease. For mobile devices, all you have to do is download and install the official application from the Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS. Let’s see how to do it better.
If you want Copilot on your Microsoft PC you need to download the App of the same name from the Microsoft Store . Clicking on the Install button will start the download after a few seconds and the software will proceed to install it on your PC. On Mac instead you need to use the web App in Safari by adding easy access to the Dock. Just go to the Copilot website , click on File , Add to Dock and click on Add . Otherwise you can benefit from the Mac App Store and download the Copilot application directly, but in this case you are bound to have a macOS 12.0 or a later version .
If you have an Android smartphone or tablet , to install Copilot you need to search for the application of the same name in the Google Play Store . In reality, you could also download the App from alternative Stores , but we still recommend that you rely on a more secure platform such as the Play Store, unless you have a device that is not compatible with Google services , in which case you would have no alternatives. Once you have found the App, all you have to do is tap on Install and wait a few seconds for the download.
On iPad and iPhone you’ll have to rely on the Apple App Store and add an extra step by unlocking the installation with Face ID .
On both Android and iOS , once you have downloaded and installed the Copilot App, accept/deny location permissions and access the home page . There are no special menus, you will immediately have the chat in which to write your requests. To obtain all the features, tap on Sign in , top left, and enter your Microsoft account credentials . If you do not have one you will have to create one from scratch.
By tapping on the (+) button , at the bottom left, you will start a new chat in which you can write your questions.
How to Activate Copilot on Office 365
We anticipated that Copilot can also integrate perfectly into Microsoft 365 , becoming a real AI assistant to optimize productivity with Word , Teams , Excel , PowerPoint and Outlook .
Specifically, Copilot for Microsoft 365 makes the most of both large language models ( LLM ) and workflow data on the documents you are working with . In fact, you can ask Copilot to modify or improve a text or a graph directly while you are using Excel, Word and the like. Many companies are using this tool to create tables in Word , summaries , emails in Outlook and generate real files with Python in Excel .
How to activate Copilot in Office 365?
First, log in to your Microsoft 365 account and purchase the Copilot license in the Billing , License section . Once you have the license, make sure that your users have updated licenses, to do this go to File , Account and finally Update License .
Now go to Apps , for example, Microsoft Word or Excel and you should see the Copilot icon on the home page and in the feature bar .
In some cases if you have a 6 month Enterprise account you may need the monthly one to view Copilot. This little issue will surely be resolved in a few weeks.
How to get Copilot for free
Not all Microsoft Copilot services are available for free at this time; in fact, you can access the basic features on certain platforms. If you want to access them for free, Microsoft Copilot is available in several trial versions , especially if you are a new Microsoft user and have recently created an account.
However, the methods that allow you to access it for free more quickly are: download the Copilot App from the Microsoft Store and view the official page from your web browser .
An equally interesting alternative is Copilot on WhatsApp , which you can activate by scanning a QR code. We explain the complete procedure in our guide How to use Copilot on WhatsApp .
Differences between Copilot and Copilot Pro
In addition to Copilot in its free version, Microsoft has also developed Copilot Pro , a subscription plan that adds more features and better performance. To access this version you will have to invest 22 euros/month/user with 1 month of free trial and you will benefit from continuous support , the GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo algorithm , as well as the DALL-E 3 tool to generate AI images for free . Copilot Pro is especially recommended if you want to integrate AI into programs such as Excel , Word , Outlook , OneNote and PowerPoint .