Microsoft 365 Copilot - has Clippy become a wizard?

Writing Microsoft 365 Copilot training keeps dropping off the bottom of my to-do list. Initially I couldn’t see enough value – but the addition of custom assistants (Microsoft call them agents) in SharePoint changed my mind.

My new year’s resolution is to write up use cases each week to create practical training tailored to SMEs and charities. With regular videos and blogs to let others join me on my journey.

My preferred AI tools

Generally, I use ChatGPT or one of the specialist tools. My focus is on ChatGPT as a solid all-rounder and as a Microsoft user – I like that I can export directly to Word, Excel or PowerPoint. There are also so many features included, such as custom assistants (GPTs), projects and tasks. ?

If I was in a Google workspace it would be Gemini (also better for tasks that need more info processed at once with its massive 2 million context window) and Claude has a big following, both for being an ethical option, and the most humanlike writer.

When Copilot

Microsoft Copilot uses the same large language model (LLM) as ChatGPT, but with some changes to how it has been trained and unique integration with Microsoft 365. I have been paying for my Copilot licence for some time. The option to open Copilot in the main programmes, feels a bit like Clippy (remember the paper clip that popped up to help?). The difference is the functionality on offer:

• In Excel: it can give advice on formula and even add them in, it can suggest insights from data and create charts, pivot tables, etc.
• In Word: it can provide a summary of the document, answer questions, and help with drafting.
• In PowerPoint: it can create slides for you, tell you what the slide deck is about and suggest edits.
• In Outlook: it can summarise an email chain, help draft a tricky response and assist with rules to help organise your inbox.

My favourite features are in Teams, where it can help capture notes from a meeting – and even provide a summary during the meeting. The new features mean you can set up an assistant with access to files who can join the Teams chat.

There is also a M365 Copilot interface. Here you can choose to work within your Microsoft account or use the web. One example of the benefit, is you can ask it to gather project updates from Teams chat, files and emails.

Another positive feature is the ability to save prompts. I’ve been looking at how to best manage this for ChatGPT etc.

Wow, it sounds great

It is helpful, but, there is a but. If you’ve got used to briefing ChatGPT on more complex tasks I have had much better results. When you’re running a business quality matters and we need AI to act as our assistant, not just Wizard Clippy. Sometimes I can’t get it to perform tasks that would be easy on ChatGPT.

Why Copilot?

For some of the companies I work with the data privacy and security of Microsoft 365 Copilot make it their preferred choice, as well as the integration into the Microsoft ecosystem. That said, don’t think it is the only option as business accounts on other platforms, such as ChatGPT Teams, come with Enterprise-Grade Security.

The main advantage of it, is that it works within your organisation’s Microsoft 365 environment (called a tenant). It has the same security, compliance and privacy controls as the rest of Microsoft 365. It reduces risk, as there are no third-party apps needed – any sensitive data stays in your organisation’s private space. ?

As an aside, there are even more secure controlled options, but these will be custom solutions.

What I’m planning…

I’m going to document my journey to create Microsoft 365 Copilot training. Each week we’ll:

• Put ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot head-to-head, using one of the use cases I regularly train.
• Provide tips on how to get the best out of Microsoft Copilot.
• Build a library of practical advice on how to Microsoft Copilot within an SME or a charity.

We’ll share the good and the not so good, and it would be great?to have others join us on this journey. Sign up to our newsletter to receive weekly updates.