In the tech landscape of 2023, one trend stood out above all: the dominance of artificial intelligence (AI). With the rapid ascent of ChatGPT and its counterparts, major players like Microsoft Copilot in the industry raced to integrate AI into their platforms, revolutionizing user experiences across the board. Meta incorporated AI into Facebook Messenger, Google introduced Bard, and numerous other companies embraced AI to enhance their offerings.
Among these developments, Microsoft emerged as a key player, making significant strides in the AI realm. Bolstering its commitment to innovation, the tech giant invested a staggering $10 billion in OpenAI, the minds behind ChatGPT. This move garnered widespread attention, with ChatGPT quickly amassing over a million users within just five days of its public launch.
Now, with the introduction of Microsoft Copilot on the horizon, the tech community eagerly anticipates another leap forward in AI-driven technology. Let’s explore what to expect from this groundbreaking advancement and its potential impact on the future of computing.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
What exactly is Microsoft Copilot? The term “Microsoft Copilot” has been circulating for a while now, but its meaning can be a bit unclear. Let’s break it down and understand what’s behind this marketing buzz:
Firstly, Copilot is a brand name Microsoft uses for all its AI-powered helpers. These are digital assistants built into Microsoft services and other apps, providing support while you work or create. Microsoft has several Copilots already, and they plan to develop more specialized versions for their most important apps.
Jessica Shee of iBoysoft said, one example of a Copilot is Bing Chat, formerly known as Bing AI. It’s one of Microsoft’s oldest AI assistants, similar to ChatGPT. Bing Chat is great at tasks like conducting specialized searches, formatting data, coding, and other advanced activities made easier with AI assistance.
Recently, Microsoft rebranded Bing Chat as Copilot. This change wasn’t just about the name; it also brought enhancements, like support for the latest GPT-4 Turbo model. This upgrade aimed to make interactions with the chatbot more accurate, natural, and helpful for users.
How to Access Microsoft Copilot?
Here’s how you can access Microsoft Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat, on Bing:
- Open your browser: Start by opening your web browser on your computer or mobile device.
- Go to Bing: Type “www.bing.com” into the browser’s address bar to visit the Bing website. Microsoft Copilot is integrated into Bing, making it easy to access.
- Sign in: While it’s not always necessary, signing in with your Microsoft Account can give you a more personalized experience. If you want to sign in, look for the “Sign in” option on the Bing homepage and follow the prompts.
- Access Copilot: Look for the Copilot icon or mention on the Bing homepage. Since Bing Chat is now Microsoft Copilot, you might see references to “Copilot” instead of “Bing Chat.” You can usually find the chat interface represented by a chat icon or a sidebar labeled “Copilot.”
- Start chatting: Once you’ve found Copilot, you can start interacting with the AI by typing in your queries or requests. Microsoft Copilot can help with searches, provide information, generate content, summarize text, compose emails, offer coding assistance, and more. It’s designed to assist with a wide range of tasks.
An Overview of Copilot’s Integration with Office Apps
Adam Woods of RevenueGeeks helped us explore how Microsoft’s new AI helper will change the way we use different Office apps.
Word
No more staring at a blank page! With Copilot in Word, you can kickstart your creativity with a draft made by the AI. It can also offer different versions of your text, shorten long paragraphs, and simplify complex sentences.
Excel
Excel can be overwhelming, but Copilot makes it easier. You can tell it what you want to do in plain language, and it will figure out how to do it. For example, if you need to analyze sales data, just ask Copilot to create a pivot table, and it will do the rest.
PowerPoint
Copilot in PowerPoint helps you make impactful presentations. It can create slides based on your prompts, add fancy formatting, and even write speaker notes for you.
Outlook
Managing emails is a breeze with Copilot in Outlook. It helps you reply quickly, summarize long email chains, and keep your inbox organized.
Teams
Meetings are more efficient with Copilot in Teams. It can summarize discussions, highlight key points, and suggest action items in real-time, so you can focus on the meeting without worrying about taking notes.
Power Platform
Copilot on the Power Platform lets you automate tasks and create chatbots without coding. You can turn your ideas into working apps in minutes.
Viva
In Viva, Microsoft’s platform for employee experience, Copilot helps with learning and development. It can find learning materials, answer questions about company policies, and suggest professional development opportunities tailored to each employee.
Is Microsoft Copilot Available Now?
Microsoft is gradually introducing its Copilot companions to various apps.
The company has a variety of AI tools planned for different purposes and users. For instance, the new Loop app uses AI to facilitate collaboration. There are also specialized Copilots for enterprise users, along with one integrated into Windows 11.
These were the release dates for Microsoft’s different Copilots:
- Microsoft Copilot: Initially launched in February 2023 (renamed to Microsoft Copilot in November 2023)
- Windows Copilot: Started rolling out in September 2023 through a Windows Update for Windows 11
- Copilot for Microsoft 365: Began rolling out to enterprise customers in November 2023
In conclusion, Microsoft Copilot represents a significant leap forward in the integration of AI technology into everyday tasks and workflows. As Microsoft continues to expand and refine Copilot’s functionalities, we can expect it to become an indispensable tool for individuals and organizations alike, revolutionizing the way we work and collaborate in the digital age.
Share your thoughts and experiences with Microsoft Copilot in the comments below! We’d love to hear how this AI assistant is transforming your workflow and productivity.
