At the Ignite 2023, Microsoft announced that the Copilot for Microsoft 365 service would be open to all enterprises. The company also reiterated this announcement in a January blog post this year. This morning, the company revealed that the Copilot for Microsoft 365 service has now been extended to Windows desktop users. According to an official Microsoft blog post, users who have a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license and have turned on the Windows desktop Copilot generative AI assistant will see a new switch in the Copilot sidebar – “Work and Network.” Microsoft further explains on its support page that Copilot on Windows can connect to three different chat provider platforms. They include Microsoft Copilot, Copilot with business data protection, and Graph data-driven chat.
- Microsoft Copilot: Basic version, available for free.
- Copilot with commercial data protection: Available to all Microsoft 365 business and education customers at no additional cost. This version protects company and organizational data, does not save chat history, and does not use Copilot information to train Microsoft’s large language models.
- Copilot with Graph-grounded chat: Available to Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscribers (additional $30 per person per month). This version securely accesses your Microsoft Graph data (such as user documents, email, calendars, chats, meetings, and contacts) to help you write content and get answers to your questions.
In addition to the Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscription, Microsoft also provides Copilot Pro for individual users at $20 per person per month. It provides more powerful generative AI capabilities.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant that works alongside users, embedded in the Microsoft 365 apps they use every day. It has links to apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, to unleash productivity. Copilot combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with users’ data in the Microsoft Graph. This will help to deliver accurate, relevant, contextual responses. Copilot is integrated into Microsoft 365 and automatically inherits all the company’s valuable compliance and privacy policies and processes.
With regards to the desktop version of Copilot, Microsoft said it will bring Graph-grounded chat capabilities to Copilot in Windows for users who have an active Copilot for Microsoft 365 license and Copilot for Windows. The company added in the blog postÂ
“In the Copilot in Windows sidebar, this appears as a toggle between “Work” and “Web”, allowing users to choose between leveraging the capabilities of Copilot for Microsoft 365 or Copilot with commercial data protection (formerly known as Bing Chat Enterprise). This offers a new, easy way for users to access Copilot in Microsoft 365 features in addition to existing surfaces in Teams, Edge, and copilot.microsoft.com.”
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Capabilities of Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot has several capabilities that can help users in their daily work. These capabilities include:
– Creating, summarizing, analyzing, and visualizing data in Excel
– Generating text and tables in Word
– Summarizing and drafting emails in Outlook
– Generating Python visualizations in Excel
– Organizing windows and turning on the computer’s dark room in Windows
– Helping users shop and write an essay
Availability of Microsoft Copilot for Windows desktops
In terms of the availability of desktop Copilot, here is what Microsoft had to say
“The feature will roll out today for organizations with a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license and Copilot in Windows enabled.“
This means that from today, all those with an active license will be able to use the Copilot for Windows desktops.
Benefits of Microsoft Copilot for Windows desktops
The benefits of Microsoft Copilot for Windows desktops include:
1. Centralized AI Assistance: Windows is the first PC platform to provide centralized AI assistance, allowing users to get answers and inspirations from across the web.
2. Support for Creativity and Collaboration: Copilot in Windows supports creativity and collaboration, helping users focus on tasks, complete projects, and collaborate more effectively.
3. Faster Task Completion: Copilot in Windows can perform common tasks, such as changing Windows settings, to help users get things done faster.
4. **Integration with Windows Features**: It integrates with the clipboard and provides the ability to drag and drop images, allowing for a seamless and efficient user experience[1][4].
5. Customizable Chat Tones: Users can toggle the tone of chat from Precise, which focuses on shorter, more search-focused answers, to Creative, which gives longer and more descriptive responses, enhancing the flexibility of the AI assistant.
6. Persistent Accessibility: Copilot in Windows can be docked in a side pane, staying persistent next to any open windows, and can be easily accessed using the taskbar or keyboard shortcuts.
These benefits make Microsoft Copilot a valuable AI-powered assistant for Windows desktop users, enhancing productivity, creativity, and efficiency.
Final Words
The expansion of Microsoft Copilot to Windows desktop users marks a significant milestone in AI integration for productivity tools. With its seamless integration into Microsoft 365 apps and now onto desktop environments, Copilot brings a new level of assistance and efficiency to users’ daily workflows. It offers users a centralized AI assistant that provides valuable insights and assistance. It also also enhances creativity, collaboration, and task completion. By leveraging the power of large language models and Microsoft Graph data, Copilot delivers accurate and contextual responses across various Microsoft 365 applications.
The customizable chat tones and persistent accessibility features further enhance the user experience. This allows users to tailor Copilot to their preferences and seamlessly integrate it into their workflow. As Microsoft continues to innovate and expand Copilot’s capabilities, it is poised to become an indispensable asset for individuals and organizations striving for greater efficiency and success in the digital age.
Author Bio
Efe Udin is a seasoned tech writer with over seven years of experience. He covers a wide range of topics in the tech industry from industry politics to mobile phone performance. From mobile phones to tablets, Efe has also kept a keen eye on the latest advancements and trends. He provides insightful analysis and reviews to inform and educate readers. Efe is very passionate about tech and covers interesting stories as well as offers solutions where possible.
