Microsoft Copilot is a new AI companion designed to seamlessly integrate across various Microsoft services such as GitHub, Microsoft 365, Bing, and Windows. Copilot can understand and respond to natural language queries, eliminating the need for specific commands or complex syntax and enhancing user-friendly interactions with technology.
Microsoft Copilot can handle a variety of tasks such as summarising tedious email threads, drafting responses, scheduling meetings, and managing user calendars. The AI assistant can be used as a co-writer for creative writing, and it can provide story concepts and generate suggestions for plot twists, character development, and dialogue. Musicians and songwriters can use Copilot to experiment with chord progressions and get suggestions for lyrics or melodies.
For enterprises, Microsoft 365 Copilot will be generally available starting November 1, 2023. It is tailored to meet the needs of businesses and organisations offering advanced features and integration.
In addition to enterprise solutions, Microsoft Copilot also offers functionalities such as price comparison and deals, product research and recommendations, virtual styling and outfit suggestions, and real-time inventory updates. The tool also streamlines the checkout process by securely autofilling payment and shipping details, enabling a seamless online shopping experience.
Copilot is a paid service, costing US$30 per user per month with an existing Microsoft 365 subscription. The new AI companion carries the promise of a rich, tailor-made experience with its integration into various Microsoft products and services. However, its relatively high price could be a potential obstacle for corporations with many employees. The software was available as part of a Windows 11 update that started on September 26, 2023.
Microsoft emphasises their commitment to privacy and compliance with existing privacy and security commitments under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the European Union (EU) Data Boundary. While Copilot may use optional customer feedback to improve its services, Microsoft assures users that this information is not used to train the foundation Learning Language Models (LLM) used by Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Overall, Microsoft Copilot brings an inventive range of capabilities that enhance productivity, creativity, and user experience across various products. Whether the investment is worth it will likely depend on individual users and organisations, along with further developments and updates coming from Microsoft.
