Power Platform + AI: Power Apps Copilot

Power Apps Copilot

Today, the demand for efficient and intuitive app development tools is higher than ever. Fortunately for us, Power Apps Copilot is here to supply our demand. Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, Power Apps Copilot will transform the way developers create applications, empowering them to build faster and smarter than ever before.

Power Apps Copilot serves as a virtual assistant for makers, guiding them through the app development journey - makers provide instructions using every day language and Copilot builds the app and backend data structure.

Let's explore Power Apps Copilot in action!

I want to build an app to manage sessions for an upcoming tech conference my company is hosting. From the Power Apps home page, I can provide a description of what I want my app to do.

Power Apps Copilot gets to work and creates the backend Dataverse table needed to store my session data. It creates relevant columns and sample data to get me started.

Using the Copilot experience on the right panel, I can ask Copilot to make adjustments to the data table. For example, we aren't charging attendees per session, so I've asked Copilot to remove that column.

I've also asked for it to add a new column for Speaker.

Currently, the Location column is text and it includes some cities. I'll ask Copilot to change the data type of the Location column to Choice, so that people aren't entering in freeform text.

And, given the hybrid nature of our conference, I'll tell Copilot to change the available choices for Location from varying cities to "In Person" and "Virtual".

Lastly, I'll ask for some more sample data to work with.

Now that my data table is all set, Power Apps will create my app.

Here is what my app looks like, out of the box.

Within my app, I can easily select a record and edit the session details.

I can also create a new record for my session, "Power Apps Copilot for All"

And I'll use the search bar to then search for that session by name.

When I preview the Power App, I can choose how I view my application: on a tablet, phone, or browser. Because this app was automatically built using containers, it will auto-size to the device it is on.

Let's view my app as if I was using an Apple iPad mini... looks pretty sharp!

I can also change the orientation to get a better understanding of how the device's orientation changes my app's UI.

Overall, I'm loving the app, but let's add another Copilot feature into my Power App. I'll create a second screen and add the new Copilot control . This Copilot component allows users of the app to ask questions about the data.

By pointing the Copilot control to my Sessions table, I can now ask questions about the conference sessions.

From here, I have a fully functional Power App that I can now use. However, I can also choose to customize it just like any other Power App.

Conclusion

Power Apps Copilot represents a significant leap forward in the field of low-code app development. By infusing AI into the Power Apps maker experience, Microsoft has created an intelligent virtual assistant that empowers makers to build applications faster, improve app quality, and shrink the time-to-value. As Power Apps Copilot continues to evolve and grow, it promises to redefine the future of low-code app creation - making it more accessible, efficient, and enjoyable for all.