Microsoft’s Copilot is an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to make your work and personal tasks easier. Built on advanced large language models (LLMs), Copilot uses a simple prompt-and-response interaction to provide answers, generate content, and assist with a variety of tasks.
Whether you’re an admin deciding which Copilot to implement for your organization or an end user trying to understand the Copilot installed on your device, this guide will help you navigate the different Copilot options available.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant that leverages cutting-edge language models to provide intelligent responses to your queries. It can be used for work-related tasks, personal projects, and even creative endeavors like generating images or summarizing documents.
Depending on your needs, there are several versions of Copilot tailored for different users and use cases.
Let’s break down the different Copilots available and how they can benefit you or your organization.
1. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Best for: Work and Personal Tasks (with Caution)
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a free tool for organizations with a Microsoft 365 license. It’s designed to help users get information from the internet and generate content quickly.
Key Features:
- Web-Based Chat: Provides answers using information from the internet.
- Content Creation: Generate images and save, edit, or share AI-generated content using Copilot Pages.
- Accessibility: Available via the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, Microsoft Edge, and Bing.
Use Cases:
- Researching information online.
- Creating images or content for presentations.
- Drafting emails or summarizing documents.
Important Note:
While you can use Copilot Chat for personal tasks, avoid entering sensitive or proprietary work information in your prompts.
How to Access:
Visit Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat or use the Copilot app on your device.
2. Microsoft 365 Copilot
Best for: Work Tasks with Access to Organizational Data
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a more advanced version licensed by your organization. It combines the features of Copilot Chat with access to your work data through Microsoft Graph.
Key Features:
- Work and Web Modes: Switch between accessing organizational data (work mode) and internet-based information (web mode).
- Integration with Microsoft 365 Apps: Use Copilot in Teams, Word, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 apps.
- AI-Powered Assistance: Summarize emails, create meeting agendas, generate presentations, and more.
Use Cases:
- Finding information in Outlook emails or SharePoint documents.
- Summarizing long Word documents or creating PowerPoint slides.
- Filtering and analyzing data in Excel.
How to Access:
Available at Microsoft 365 Copilot, in Microsoft Edge, Bing, and Microsoft 365 apps.
3. Microsoft Copilot (Consumer Version)
Best for: Personal Tasks
Microsoft Copilot is the free, consumer-focused version of the AI assistant. It’s ideal for personal use and nonsensitive work tasks.
Key Features:
- Internet-Based Information: Get answers and generate content using web data.
- Creative Tools: Create images, draft emails, or generate guidelines for personal projects.
- Work or Personal Mode: If accessed on a work device, users can choose between work (redirects to Microsoft 365 Copilot) or personal modes.
Use Cases:
- Drafting personal emails or creating birthday cards.
- Getting answers to general questions, like resume writing tips.
- Generating images for personal projects.
How to Access:
Visit Microsoft Copilot or use the Copilot app.
4. Microsoft Security Copilot
Best for: Security Professionals
Microsoft Security Copilot is a specialized tool for security teams. It helps with incident response, threat hunting, and managing organizational security.
Key Features:
- Threat Analysis: Summarize threat incidents and create reports.
- Integration with Microsoft Security Tools: Works with Microsoft Defender XDR, Purview, Intune, and more.
- Device and User Monitoring: Investigate compromised accounts and check device compliance.
Use Cases:
- Identifying and responding to security threats.
- Summarizing data loss prevention alerts.
- Managing organizational security posture.
How to Access:
Licensed by your organization. Learn more at Microsoft Security Copilot.
5. GitHub Copilot
Best for: Developers
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that helps developers write code faster and more efficiently.
Key Features:
- Code Suggestions: Get real-time code suggestions as you type.
- Free for Students and Teachers: Verified students and teachers can use it for free.
- Integration with Visual Studio Code: Set up Copilot in your coding environment.
Use Cases:
- Writing and debugging code.
- Learning new programming languages or frameworks.
How to Access:
Licensed by your organization or available for free to eligible users. Learn more at GitHub Copilot.
6. Microsoft Copilot Studio
Best for: Customizing AI Agents
Microsoft Copilot Studio is a low-code tool for creating custom AI agents to automate business processes.
Key Features:
- Custom Agents: Build agents for help desks, change management, or guest management.
- Data Integration: Connect to various data sources.
- Custom Prompts: Tailor prompts to meet specific business needs.
Use Cases:
- Automating help desk support.
- Managing meeting guests or change requests.
How to Access:
Licensed by your organization.
Choosing the Right Copilot for Your Needs
- For Organizations: If you need an AI assistant for work tasks, Microsoft 365 Copilot is the best choice. For security teams, Microsoft Security Copilot is essential.
- For Developers: GitHub Copilot is a must-have for coding assistance.
- For Personal Use: Microsoft Copilot (consumer version) is perfect for personal tasks and creative projects.
- For Custom Solutions: Use Microsoft Copilot Studio to build tailored AI agents for your business.
Here’s a comparison table summarizing the key features, use cases, and accessibility of the different Microsoft Copilot versions:
| Copilot Version | Best For | Key Features | Use Cases | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat | Work and Personal Tasks | – Web-based chat – Content creation (images, documents) – Free for Microsoft 365 license holders | – Researching online – Drafting emails – Generating images | Available at Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, Microsoft Edge, Bing |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Work Tasks with Organizational Data | – Work and web modes – Integration with Microsoft 365 apps – AI-powered assistance | – Summarizing emails – Creating meeting agendas – Analyzing Excel data | Available at Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 apps, Edge, Bing |
| Microsoft Copilot (Consumer) | Personal Tasks | – Internet-based information – Creative tools (images, emails) – Free for personal use | – Drafting personal emails – Creating birthday cards – General Q&A | Available at Microsoft Copilot, Copilot app, Edge, Bing |
| Microsoft Security Copilot | Security Professionals | – Threat analysis – Integration with Microsoft security tools – Device and user monitoring | – Incident response – Threat hunting – Summarizing security alerts | Licensed by organizations. Learn more at Microsoft Security Copilot |
| GitHub Copilot | Developers | – Real-time code suggestions – Free for verified students and teachers – Integration with Visual Studio Code | – Writing and debugging code – Learning new programming languages | Licensed by organizations or free for eligible users. Learn more at GitHub Copilot |
| Microsoft Copilot Studio | Custom AI Agents | – Low-code tool for creating agents – Data integration – Custom prompts for business processes | – Automating help desks – Managing meeting guests – Change management | Licensed by organizations |
Key Takeaways from the Table
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is ideal for general work and personal tasks, but avoid sharing sensitive information.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot is the go-to for organizations needing AI assistance with work data and Microsoft 365 app integration.
- Microsoft Copilot (Consumer) is perfect for personal use and nonsensitive tasks.
- Microsoft Security Copilot is a must-have for security teams to manage threats and incidents.
- GitHub Copilot is the best choice for developers to write and debug code efficiently.
- Microsoft Copilot Studio is designed for creating custom AI agents to automate business processes.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft’s Copilot suite offers a range of AI-powered tools to streamline tasks, boost productivity, and enhance creativity. Whether you’re an admin, developer, security professional, or casual user, there’s a Copilot designed to meet your needs. By understanding the features and use cases of each Copilot, you can make an informed decision and unlock the full potential of AI in your work or personal life.