Lilly Tech Systems
Beginner
Introduction to Microsoft Copilot
Discover what Microsoft Copilot is, how it integrates across the Microsoft ecosystem, and what sets it apart from other AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built on OpenAI's GPT-4 model and deeply integrated across Microsoft's product ecosystem. It is designed to help you write, create, research, analyze data, and automate tasks — all from within the tools you already use every day.
Unlike standalone chatbots, Copilot is embedded directly into Windows, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams), making AI assistance available wherever you work.
Good to know: Microsoft Copilot was launched in 2023 as part of Microsoft's strategic partnership with OpenAI. It replaced the earlier Cortana assistant and represents Microsoft's vision of AI-first productivity.
Copilot Across the Microsoft Ecosystem
One of Copilot's greatest strengths is its deep integration across Microsoft products. Here is where you will find it:
- Copilot in Windows: Built into Windows 11, accessible from the taskbar or with the Copilot key on newer keyboards. Helps with system settings, summarizing content, generating text, and more.
- Copilot in Edge: Available as a sidebar in Microsoft Edge. Summarize web pages, ask questions about content you are viewing, compose text, and compare products.
- Copilot in Word: Draft documents, rewrite paragraphs, summarize long documents, and change tone or formatting with natural language commands.
- Copilot in Excel: Analyze data, create formulas, generate charts, identify trends, and get insights from spreadsheets using plain English.
- Copilot in PowerPoint: Create entire presentations from prompts or documents, design slides, add images, and reorganize content.
- Copilot in Outlook: Draft emails, summarize long email threads, suggest replies, and manage your inbox more efficiently.
- Copilot in Teams: Summarize meetings, generate action items, catch up on missed conversations, and draft messages.
Free vs. Copilot Pro
Microsoft offers Copilot in two main tiers:
| Feature | Free Copilot | Copilot Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Access | copilot.microsoft.com, Windows, Edge | All free features + Microsoft 365 apps |
| AI Model | GPT-4 (with limits during peak times) | Priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo |
| Image Generation | Limited DALL-E credits per day | 100 boosts per day for faster image generation |
| Microsoft 365 Integration | Not included | Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote |
| Price | Free | $20/month (requires Microsoft 365 subscription) |
Tip: The free tier of Copilot is a great starting point. You get access to GPT-4 powered conversations, web search, and image generation without any cost. Upgrade to Pro only if you need deep Microsoft 365 integration.
How Copilot Differs from ChatGPT and Claude
While all three are powerful AI assistants, they have distinct strengths:
| Aspect | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT | Claude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built by | Microsoft (using OpenAI models) | OpenAI | Anthropic |
| Key strength | Microsoft ecosystem integration | Broad plugin ecosystem | Safety, long context, nuanced reasoning |
| Web search | Built-in with Bing (always on with citations) | Available with browsing mode | Available via web search tool |
| Image generation | DALL-E integrated natively | DALL-E integrated natively | Not available natively |
| Office integration | Deep, native integration across M365 | Limited | Limited |
| Best for | Productivity in Microsoft tools | General-purpose AI tasks | Complex reasoning and long documents |
Copilot's Integration Ecosystem
Beyond the core Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot extends through an ecosystem of plugins and integrations:
- Copilot Studio: A low-code platform for building custom Copilot experiences and chatbots tailored to your organization's needs.
- Plugins: Third-party integrations that extend Copilot's capabilities, such as Suno for music creation, OpenTable for restaurant reservations, and Kayak for travel planning.
- Microsoft Graph: Copilot uses Microsoft Graph to understand your organizational data — emails, files, meetings, and contacts — to provide personalized, context-aware responses.
- Copilot for Security: A specialized version for cybersecurity professionals that integrates with Microsoft Sentinel, Defender, and Intune.
- Copilot for Sales/Service: Role-based Copilot experiences designed for sales teams and customer service agents.
Example Conversation
User: What are the main differences between Copilot Free and Copilot Pro? Should I upgrade? Copilot: Here are the key differences: Copilot Free gives you: - GPT-4 powered conversations - Web search with Bing citations - Basic image generation with DALL-E - Access via copilot.microsoft.com, Windows, and Edge Copilot Pro ($20/month) adds: - Priority access to the latest AI models - 100 image generation boosts per day - Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) Should you upgrade? If you use Microsoft 365 daily and want AI help drafting documents, analyzing spreadsheets, or creating presentations, Pro is worth it. If you mainly use Copilot for chat and web search, the free tier is sufficient.
💡 Try It: Explore Copilot
Before moving on, visit copilot.microsoft.com and try asking Copilot a question. Think about how you might use it in your daily work.
Jot down what you notice about Copilot's interface and responses. You will explore further in the next lesson!
Prerequisites: This course assumes no prior AI experience. You need a Microsoft account (free) and a web browser. A Microsoft 365 subscription is helpful for certain lessons but not required.