Introducing Copilot Chat: Your AI Assistant in Microsoft 365

Staff now have access to Copilot Chat, a powerful AI tool built into Microsoft 365.

Copilot Chat is a free AI assistant available to everyone with a Microsoft 365 account.  It works like a smart chatbot that you can ask questions, get help with tasks, or even brainstorm ideas.  

How do I access Copilot Chat?

You can access Copilot Chat in a few simple steps:

1. Go to https://office.com
2. Sign in with your work email if prompted.
3. Click Chat from the left-hand menu.

Alternatively, you can find it in:

• Microsoft Edge (top right corner)
• Outlook or Teams (as a pinned app)

Microsoft is gradually rolling out Copilot features across Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to all users as part of the standard Microsoft 365 experience.

What can I do with Copilot Chat?

Here are some examples of how you can use it:

• Improve your writing: Ask it to reword a sentence or make your writing more professional.
• Summarise documents: Upload a Word or PDF file and ask for a summary.
• Generate ideas: Need help brainstorming for a project or presentation? Just ask.
• Create images: Ask it to generate visuals for your work.  Please remember that any images intended for official council documents or public use must comply with corporate communications guidance to avoid any potential reputational risk.

You don’t need to be tech-savvy - just type what you need in plain English.

What’s the difference between Copilot Chat and Copilot for Microsoft 365?

You may be aware that we’re currently piloting Copilot for Microsoft 365, which is a paid version that works directly with your work content like emails, documents, and calendars.  The free version, Copilot Chat, is available to all staff with Microsoft 365 accounts.

Here’s a simple comparison:

What does “Grounding” mean?

• Copilot Chat is grounded in web data – it gives general answers based on publicly available information. It’s useful for tasks like summarising articles, writing help, or answering general questions.
• Copilot for Microsoft 365 is grounded in your work data – it can securely access your emails, documents, and calendars to give tailored help. For example, it can draft a reply to an email, summarise a meeting, or pull figures from a spreadsheet you’re working on.

While Copilot Chat is great for general support, Copilot for Microsoft 365 offers personalised help based on your actual work.

Interested in the paid version of Copilot for Microsoft 365?

We’re currently limiting access to Copilot for Microsoft 365 as part of a pilot programme, and all available licences have already been allocated.

However, if you’re interested in using the licensed version, you can register your interest using this form.  Please note:

• Submitting the form does not guarantee access – we may not be able to allocate additional licences at this stage.
• The pilot may not continue – there’s no guarantee that we will extend or adopt the paid version beyond the pilot period.

We’ll keep you informed of any changes or future opportunities to access Copilot for Microsoft 365.

Is there any guidance about using AI tools safely?

Yes, there is information regarding responsible use of AI tools available on Interchange interchange - interchange

Where do I go if I need help?

The best place to go to ask for help or to share any useful prompts or experiences with colleagues is the MC Artificial Intelligence Team.  

Rate this Page