Microsoft Copilot is a chatbot, virtual assistant, and productivity tool that replaces the Bing AI chatbot. Copilot, formerly known as Bing Search, is based on ChatGPT and replaces the Bing AI chatbot.
Copilot is Microsoft's AI productivity tool. It generates machine learning models based on GPT-4o, just like the Bing AI chatbot, which means it is trained on large amounts of data and can be used to answer questions and perform a variety of practical tasks.
It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to simulate normal human conversation and can perform a variety of tasks such as answering questions, summarizing emails, drafting presentations, and more.
Unlike the Bing AI chatbot, which is limited to Bing Search, you can access Microsoft Copilot through Microsoft 365 apps like Word and Excel, as well as directly through Windows.
In addition to the initial training data, Copilot also has access to the Bing search engine when it needs to answer a specific query. Copilot also leverages Microsoft Graph, an API that allows it to access documents, email, calendar events, chat, and meetings from your Microsoft account.
Because Copilot is a natural language AI, you can interact with it conversationally, just like you would with another human being.
Copilot is available in Bing Search, Windows, Microsoft Edge, and Microsoft 365 apps, with functionality varying depending on where you visit. When you use Copilot with Bing, it can perform Web searches, answer queries, and perform all the same tasks as ChatGPT.
When accessed via Microsoft Edge, it gains additional functionality, such as providing a summary of the page you're currently viewing. In Windows, Copilot can perform tasks such as activating dark mode and launching focus sessions. Implementations in Microsoft 365 apps are more diverse and vary from app to app.
Microsoft originally developed Copilot, based on OpenAI's GPT-4 technology at the time. As a generative AI model, ChatGPT can be trained by feeding it data and then using natural language to synthesize the data into answers in a familiar conversational manner.
The model was originally developed by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company funded by Microsoft and others. Microsoft trained the model using its own data, integrated it with the Microsoft Graph API, and made other adjustments to create Copilot.
As new versions of ChatGPT become available, Microsoft will adopt them in Copilot.
If you use any Microsoft product, chances are Copilot has affected you in some way. Copilot is integrated into Bing search and the Edge web browser, and can also be used directly from Windows via a button on the taskbar. Copilot is also available within Microsoft 365 Apps, but only if you or your employer pays for access.
Copilot may affect you in some of the following ways:
- Bing users : If you use the Bing search engine, the search results you see are directly affected by the Copilot integration. You can search directly through Copilot by clicking Chat or scrolling up on any Bing search results page, and even if you don't use the Copilot interface directly, you may see responses from the AI next to the search results.
- Edge users : If you browse the web using Microsoft Edge, you may have noticed the Copilot ribbon logo in the upper right corner of your browser window. You can use Edge without interacting with Copilot, but this integration provides easy access to the Copilot chatbot with some extra features. For example, it can summarize the page you're viewing, turn on dark mode, organize tabs, or change the browser theme.
- Windows users : Copilot can also be accessed directly via a button on the Windows taskbar. Click the button to access the Copilot chatbot with additional features, such as summarizing web pages you're viewing in Edge, starting a focus session, turning on Do Not Disturb mode, or switching between dark and light modes.
- Microsoft 365 users : If you use Microsoft 365 Apps, you or your employer can add the Copilot integration, which allows you to write drafts in Word, create presentations from scratch in PowerPoint, summarize emails from Outlook, analyze data, and create presentations in Excel. Create visualizations and more.
If you don't use any Microsoft products, Copilot is unlikely to impact your daily life.
You can try Copilot for free in the Bing search engine and Edge web browser. It can also be used directly in Windows.
You can try Copilot for free by:
- Try Copilot with Bing : Navigate to Bing's website and click Chat .
- Try Copilot in Edge : Click the Copilot icon in the upper right corner of the browser window.
- Try Copilot in Windows : Click the Copilot icon on the right side of the taskbar.
You can also access Copilot in Microsoft 365. To try out Microsoft 365 Apps, you must have a Microsoft 365 subscription and pay for the Copilot add-on.
An annual subscription costs $30 per month, or you can pay more than $360 up front and pay annually. (By the way, there are no discounts for paying the annual fee.)
Co-pilot in Microsoft 365
No matter where you access Copilot, you'll see the same basic interface: conversational toggles, a short list of some of the tasks Copilot can perform, and a text box for entering requests.
The conversation style toggle allows the AI some creativity and leeway when you select the "More Creative" option, and limits it to the basic facts when you select "More Precise" and "More Balanced" The options are equally divided.
It is always important to double-check any information received from an AI such as the co-pilot. Using the "More Creative" setting increases the likelihood that the AI will make things up rather than simply pointing out that it lacks necessary information, but even with the "More Accurate" setting it can still make mistakes sometimes.
Accessing Copilot through Microsoft Edge gives you three additional options: Chat , Compose , and Insights .
The chat option gives you a GPT-4o powered chatbot where you can ask questions, and it works just like the implementation of Copilot available in Bing Search. You can ask questions, ask it to help brainstorm, and even ask it to create images. The main difference is that accessing Copilot through Edge can perform useful tasks, such as switching the browser to dark mode or organizing tabs.
If you ask it to change a setting or perform a function it doesn't have access to, Copilot will open the relevant options or settings page and provide instructions. For example, if you ask Copilot to clear your cache , it will open the Clear Browsing Data screen and tell you to click the Clear Now button.
The compose feature provides options specifically designed for generating text, including tone, formatting, and length options. It can help you generate a draft if you're not sure where to start.
Insights options provide different information based on the website you're currently viewing. Depending on the content of the page, it may summarize the content or provide additional insights. For example, you can use it to quickly find more product information while shopping.
When you access Copilot through Windows, the interface is simpler. It only offers chat options, including a creativity toggle, and the option to add an image or screenshot to your query.
You can ask it questions like the implementation in Bing search and the Edge browser, but it can also adjust some Windows settings. For example, if you type "switch to dark mode" it will switch Windows to dark mode. You can also use commands such as "Turn on Do Not Disturb," "Screenshot," and "Open Wi-Fi Settings."
