What is Microsoft Copilot?

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is a chatbot that can help with writing, research, answering questions, and generating ideas—pretty much the same kinds of things ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini can do. It's powered by large language models (LLMs) from OpenAI (the same company behind ChatGPT).

Here's what makes Copilot stand out: if you already use Microsoft tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook, Copilot can work directly inside those apps (depending on which version you have). This can be really handy if you're already living in the Microsoft world.

Different versions of Copilot

Microsoft offers a few different versions of Copilot, which can get a bit confusing:

Copilot (free web version): You can use this for free at copilot.microsoft.com. It's basically a chatbot like ChatGPT—you can ask questions, get help with writing, and brainstorm ideas.

Copilot Pro: This is a paid subscription (0/month) that gives you faster responses, priority access, and the ability to use Copilot inside your Microsoft 365 apps.

Copilot for Microsoft 365: This is an enterprise version for businesses that works deeply with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Most individuals won't need this—it's typically purchased through business Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

For most people, you'll either use the free web version or Copilot Pro. That's what this guide focuses on.

What's Copilot good at?

We find Copilot especially useful for:

Writing and editing: Copilot can draft emails, reports, essays, or social media posts. It can also help improve and edit your writing.

AI prompt: "Help me write a polite follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded to my proposal"

Answering questions and explaining things: Like other chatbots, Copilot can break down complex topics into simple language.

AI prompt: "Explain how compound interest works with a practical example involving a savings account"

Brainstorming ideas: Whether you're planning a project, naming a product, or solving a problem, Copilot can come up with suggestions quickly.

AI prompt: "Give me 10 creative team-building activity ideas for a remote team of 15 people"

Getting current information: Copilot can access information from the web, which is useful when you need recent news, current prices, or up-to-date facts.

AI prompt: "What are the current mortgage interest rates in the United States?"

Working inside Microsoft apps (with Copilot Pro): If you subscribe to Copilot Pro and use Microsoft 365, Copilot can help you draft documents in Word, analyze data in Excel, or create presentations in PowerPoint.

What's Copilot not so good at?

Copilot has limits, just like other chatbots:

Accuracy: Like ChatGPT and others, Copilot can make mistakes or confidently give you wrong information. Always check important facts with reliable sources.

Complex reasoning: Copilot can struggle with multi-step logic problems or really complex analysis.

Math: While it can handle basic calculations, don't rely on it for precise or complex math work.

Consistency: The quality of responses can vary, and it might not always give you the depth or detail you need for specialized topics.

Quick tips for using Copilot

Be specific with your prompts: Clear, detailed requests get you better responses. Instead of "help me with my presentation," try "suggest an outline for a 10-minute presentation about time management for college students."

Use the web connectivity: Since Copilot can access current information, it's great for questions that need up-to-date data.

AI prompt: "What are the top tech news stories today?"

Refine as you go: If the first response isn't quite right, ask Copilot to adjust it. Say things like "make it shorter," "add more examples," or "use a more formal tone."

Check important information: For anything critical, verify Copilot's responses with reliable sources.

How does Copilot compare to ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini?

All four tools are strong chatbot assistants with similar abilities. Some key differences:

• Copilot: Can access the web by default, works with Microsoft services (especially with Pro)
• ChatGPT: Large user base, plugins, image generation with DALL-E (with Plus)
• Claude: Excellent for analyzing long documents and giving thoughtful, detailed answers
• Gemini: Can work with text and images well, connects with Google services

For a detailed comparison, see Which chatbot should I use?.

Related tools and resources

Interested in Copilot's pricing? Check out Copilot free vs paid: What do you get?. Want to get started? See How to access Copilot. For detailed usage tips, visit Copilot tips and limitations.