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30 Jun What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?
While it’s not the same as other versions of Copilot, Copilot Chat is still a remarkable tool, powered by some of the most potent AI models in the world. It’s not a worse tool, more a different tool that has different applications for businesses, meaning it’s still worth considering for your company.
In this article, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about Copilot 365 Chat, as well as how it compares to Microsoft 365 Copilot across the board, so you can make an informed decision about which is right for your business.
What Is Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is Microsoft’s new way of letting you interact with powerful AI, letting you chat with an AI LLM to be able to get information and complete basic tasks incredibly quickly. This is different to utilising Copilot for more intense business tasks, and is instead focused on quick tasks and information recall.
Copilot Chat is similar to other ‘chat’ based AIs out there, meaning that it’s a lot easier to use for basic tasks without having to use it within Microsoft 365; it’s even accessible within the web, meaning you can use it on the go.
What Can You Do With Copilot Chat?
Acting as your AI Assistant, you can boost your productivity working alongside Copilot in Copilot Chat, simply input a prompt, and Copilot will help you. You can ask a question, and Copilot will search the web for you, giving you an in-depth answer of its findings. You can also import files for Copilot to work with, such as summarising a research document.
With a 365 Copilot licence, you can take Copilot Chat to the next level, allowing Copilot to access your organisation’s content from the 365 Cloud. You can reference files, emails, and Teams chats in your prompts to Copilot, allowing it to work not only alongside your company but within it.
It also works alongside the new Copilot Pages, allowing you to give Copilot the relevant information it needs to work efficiently alongside you, and lets you page in other employees to work cooperatively with Copilot.
Inside Copilot Chat, you can access a wide range of AI Agents to customise your Copilot experience and easily automate tasks and processes. Moreover, you can access premade Agents in the Agent Store, use Agents created by other members of your company, or create your own within Copilot Chat to perfectly suit your needs.
How to Access and Use Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365
Accessing Copilot Chat is simple. Just enter the Microsoft 365 Copilot app and click the pin on the navigation bar. Alternatively, you can go to m365copilot.com to access it from inside a web browser, if you’re on a remote basis.
With a 365 Copilot licence, you will have two options: Work mode, which integrates your organisation’s data into Copilot chat, or Web mode to utilise content on the internet.
From here, you can enter your own prompt or select one of the available sample prompts within the Prompt Gallery if you’re unsure what to ask. Alongside your prompt, you can upload files for Copilot to use in its answer, and with a 365 Copilot license, you can link in people, files, or more to the conversation by typing /.
To use Agents in Copilot Chat, a Copilot Studio licence is required. Some Agents are free to use, others are billed per usage. Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed businesses can chat with all agents for free, but there are prepayment packages and pay-as-you-go plans available.
Copilot Chat vs Microsoft 365 Copilot: What’s the Difference?
Context and Data Access
Although sharing the same name, both versions of Copilot operate differently. In simple terms, Copilot Chat is the free version of Copilot, accessible with any Microsoft 365 Cloud subscription, whereas 365 Copilot is the upgraded version, with a lot more features to explore, and is available with an additional license.
Copilot Chat is a web-based AI model. It uses information from the internet when generating responses and assistance, but it cannot access any data from your organisation’s 365 Cloud. However, you can still use your company’s content with Copilot Chat by uploading it alongside a prompt or using an Agent that has access to your cloud.
App Integration and Embedded Use
Microsoft 365 Copilot is integrated into your company’s 365 Cloud, working alongside you and your business to become the perfect assistant. It has instant access to your company’s content, and is readily accessible within important applications such as Word, Outlook and Teams, neither of which the free version of Copilot Chat can do.
However, Copilot Chat can still be used alongside the Copilot suite, having access to applications such as the new Copilot Pages, allowing you to work alongside Copilot Chat in real-time, and Copilot Studio, to access and chat with a wide list of Agents, or create your own alongside Copilot Chat.
Which Version Is Right for You?
When deciding which version is right for your organisation, it is best to consider how you would work best alongside Copilot. If you want Copilot to be readily available within applications in the 365 Cloud, with secure access to your company’s cloud content to help as a quick personal assistant, the Microsoft 365 Copilot license is likely right for your company.
Whereas, if you’re looking for a generalised productivity and research helper that’s able to retrieve content from across the web within seconds, that can pair with AI Agents to customise your experience to your liking, you should opt for Copilot Chat.
In any case, if you’re struggling to decide which is best for you, reach out to us now! We can help you work out exactly what’s best for your business’s needs.
How We Can Help
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a great, lightweight productivity tool that can be used to help your employees unlock their full potential, while not delving into the full world of AI and Copilot. However, if you’re looking for a little bit more from your AI integration, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is the way to go.
If you’re looking to get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot but need a helping hand, reach out to us today. We’re here to help and will ensure you have everything you need to be able to thrive, utilising AI within your business.
Contact us now and see how we can help.
