Hot on the heels of the news that Microsoft is going to integrate AI into its Teams product, the company made one of the biggest announcements of the year with the news of its intention to soon bring AI to its most used and most popular productivity tools.
As tech remains in the grips of the first flush of AI infatuation, Microsoft users will be among the first to learn more about the capabilities of this technology as the company continues to develop new ways to harness the power of AI.
The latest Microsoft AI venture is Microsoft 365 Copilot, which is going to be used to turn the words that you create into a tool that is guaranteed to improve your workplace productivity. The announcement of this new development was made on March 16th 2023, with the technology already in full development and currently being tested by a select few commercial customers.
What customers can look forward to with Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft says that its goal with Copilot is to “unleash creativity, uplevel skills and unlock productivity.” And for the users, there are a few ways that they will be able to experience this new type of technology.
- Users will find that the AI is going to be integrated into pretty much all of the 365 products that they use and have come to depend on. Along with Teams already getting an AI boost, with Copilot, products like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook are all going to have AI integration.
- Business Chat, a new product, will also be introduced to the public. Business Chat is being designed to work across various Microsoft products, including Microsoft 365. This product will be able to generate statuses about meetings and emails, which will bridge gaps in communication.
What is going to be really most welcomed by users is the fact that although the product is powered by AI, the user will have full control.
How Copilot will be integrated
Copilot will be used in different ways, unlocking new potential in each Microsoft product it is integrated with. At the moment, here’s what you can expect:
Word – With Microsoft Word, Copilot will be used to create summaries, to write and to edit alongside the person using the programme.
Excel – Copilot will be able to use Excel data to identify trends, create beautiful visual representations of the data, and to highlight new insights which the user can then capitalise on.
Outlook – Copilot will be used to better manage the often overcrowded Outlook inbox, giving the user more time to properly answer emails.
PowerPoint – In PowerPoint, Copilot will allow the user to turn their ideas into visuals, through the use of language rather than complicated coding or commands.
With all of the new and exciting possibilities that Microsoft’s AI developments will bring, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to data protection and privacy. The new tools are the result of many years of research and a dedication to AI principles, and Microsoft intends to protect data and other sensitive information the AI will access.
Copilot will come ready to use, rather than need additional training, and it will become the first programme of its kind in the world.
In the near future, Microsoft will release more information about the pricing of these advanced tools as well as the licensing. The hope is that one day tools like Copilot will be able to greatly empower both the businesses that make use of the technology and the people who use it.
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