Introducing the different Microsoft Copilots

Matt Dunkin

Discover the multitude of Copilot solutions

In today’s fast-paced business environment, staying ahead of the curve means embracing the transformative power of AI. Microsoft is leading the AI charge with Copilot: a revolutionary tool designed to enhance productivity and streamline operations in the workplace.

In this series of blog posts, we’re taking a deep dive into the world of AI and Microsoft Copilot. For our first blog in the series, Matt Dunkin, COO at AspiraCloud, reveals the number of different Copilot solutions available and the key differences between them.

Read on:

Did you know there is more than one Microsoft Copilot?

Did you know, there is more than one Microsoft Copilot?

Copilot is in fact, the new name for ALL the AI assistants from Microsoft and it already appears alongside many of the existing Microsoft applications, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

At the time of writing, there are 13 Copilots in existence – with many more in the pipeline.

Which Copilot is which? The difference between “in” and “for”

With all these Copilot solutions, it’s important to understand which one is which – so you understand exactly what it can do. Some Microsoft products already include a Copilot, such as Copilot in Power Automate. Note the “in.” This means that Copilot is built in, at no extra cost, to provide an AI driven extension to the existing experience.

If you see Copilot for Microsoft 365, note the “for”. “For” means it’s not included and therefore not “in” the product or app. A “for” means a monthly subscription and in the case of Copilot for Microsoft 365, there is currently a 12-month commitment and a dependency on a M365 license.

What can Copilot FOR Microsoft 365 do?

Copilot for Microsoft 365 works alongside the Microsoft 365 productivity apps you use every day, such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and more. It also works across your data in the Microsoft Graph, such as your calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts. You can give it natural language prompts and it will generate content, suggestions, summaries, and more for you.

Expect to see more “in” and “for” Copilots across the Microsoft estate and the wheel getting bigger. It’s a positive move, as these built-in Copilots do have the potential to increase productivity, but this all depends on learning (you, not the AI!) on how to get the best out of each one.

If you would like to learn more about Copilot and how you can become copilot ready, simply contact us.