Artificial Intelligence is profoundly transforming how businesses operate. Spearheading this transformation is Microsoft Copilot. As per the latest McKinsey global research, one-third of the survey participants responded that they couldnât imagine their lives without generative AI tools. Quite an impact, that too, within less than 12 months of generative AI hitting the market! It is not a surprise that McKinsey Research announces 2023 as the breakthrough year for Gen AI tools. In another study, 87% of organizations say that generative AI will give them a competitive advantage. Microsoft is ushering in the change with its array of new Copilot products. This blog highlights the different Copilot products and how they can fit into your business use case. Practically, this blog is your cheat sheet for decoding the different copilots and understanding their implementation in your business.
The buzz-worthy Generative AI appeared abstract and futuristic without proper business use cases and applications. Microsoft changed that fascination into reality in a matter of months with the unleashing of several competent copilots. By integrating Microsoft Copilot into Windows, Bing, M365, Dynamic 365, Azure, and servers, enterprises can actually unlock the real productive potential of their data and employees.
Microsoft Copilot
Different from Copilot for 365, Microsoft Copilot is a groundbreaking AI chatbot based on advanced large language models that streamlines productivity, sparks creativity, and simplifies the understanding of information via its intuitive chat interface. Initially introduced as Bing Chat in February 2023, it seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Bing and Edge, marking the strategic transition towards AI-driven assistance.
Integrated into the Windows 11 ecosystem, Microsoft Copilot offers its users an enhanced experience tailored to augment productivity and creativity. Users can seek specific answers, find creative inspiration, and find practical solutions for various projects, questions, and tasks.
Availability: Windows 11, Edge browser, copilot.microsoft.com
Functions: Answering queries, summarizing information, searching the internet, generating images.
Copilot for Microsoft 365
Designed for Microsoft 365, Copilot for 365 revolutionizes productivity by automating and streamlining tasks across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It performs a range of functions across the Microsoft 365 suite. From generating content, analyzing data, designing presentations to managing emails, Copilot for 365 simplifies collaboration through its natural language commands. Specially for tasks such as creating documents, analyzing spreadsheets, and communicating, this tool significantly streamlines them, empowering users to handle complex projects and routine tasks efficiently. To use Copilot for Microsoft 365, users must have a Business Standard, Business Premium, or E3/E5 subscription.
Availability: Available for enterprise customers
Functions: Generating content in Word, creating PowerPoint presentations, data analysis in Excel, drafting emails in Outlook, and meeting summaries in Teams.
Microsoft Copilot Pro
Copilot Pro is a hybrid version of Copilot and Copilot for Microsoft 365. Unlike the free Copilot service, it presents advanced features and incorporates AI capabilities into Microsoft 365 applications. However, it is designed for individuals and not businesses. Subscribers get priority access to advanced AI models such as GPT-4, GPT-4 Turbo and DALL-E 3 through Copilot Pro. With these advanced features, users can experience swifter response times, better content creation and image-creation capabilities.
CoPilot Pro can seamlessly integrate with M365 Personal or Family subscriptions and add amazing features such as drafting and summarizing Word documents, analyzing Excel data, creating outlines and designing slides in PowerPoint, managing emails in Outlook, and organizing notes in OneNote. Understanding the difference between Copilots, especially Copilot Proâs individual user-focused approach, in comparison to the other, business-centric versions, is critical.
Availability: Available for M365 personal or Family subscribers
Functions: Generating content in Word, creating PowerPoint presentations, data analysis in Excel, drafting emails in Outlook, and meeting summaries in Teams.
Microsoft Copilot for Dynamics 365
A major leap forward in leveraging AI to elevate employee experiences and streamline operations across CRM and ERP systems is Copilot for Dynamics 365. With this copilot, employees can automate routine tasks, craft creative ideas, and extract insights simply by using natural language commands and overall empower employees to focus on high-value activities.
For sales teams, Copilot for Dynamics 365 boosts productivity by automating sales processes and providing AI-driven insights to optimize seller actions. In customer service, Copilot streamlines tasks such as case summarization, email/chat composition, quick access to knowledge base sources, and enhanced service quality. Marketing teams benefit from AI-generated customer insights, segmentation suggestions, and content creation tools, allowing personalized and effective campaigns.
Furthermore, Copilot extends the support to various operational aspects, including project management, finance, field service, and supply chain management. With AI-assisted insights and automation, it streamlines workflows, eases decision-making, and enriches customer engagement across diverse organizational functions.
Availability: Available across various Dynamics 365 applications.
Functions: Boosting productivity and efficiency in Customer relationship management (CRM) and Enterprise resource Planning (ERP); automating tasks; generating ideas and insights using natural language; and enhancing customer service and sales processes.
Copilot for Power Platform
When you get an AI-powered assistant to help you build intelligent apps within the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem, wouldnât it make the process even simpler? Copilot for Power Platform does so! It leverages LLMs, expedites the app development process, and allows users to rapidly build apps, automate workflows, and also create virtual agents through simple conversational inputs. Coming to app development in Power Apps, Copilot simplifies the app development journey- from data integration to deployment, and offers personalized suggestions based on your data and preferences. This step ensures that apps are aligned with your business objectives and are also highly efficient. One vital point is that Copilot operates within a secure environment and adheres to Microsoftâs responsible AI principles. As a result, the data and information are processed locally and are secure.
Availability: Copilot for Power Platform is accessible within Power Apps, Power BI and Power Automate.
Functions:
- In Power Apps- building enterprise apps faster and easier.
- In Power BI- to identify hidden patterns, opportunities and anomalies in the data.
- In Power Automate- constructing, editing, and extending workflows using natural language and AI-driven chat assistance.
Microsoft Security Copilot
A generative AI-powered security solution, Microsoft Security Copilot is engineered to augment the efficiency and capabilities of cyber security professionals. It offers a natural language interface and an assistive copilot experience, working at both machine speed and scale across a spectrum of security scenarios. Scenarios include threat detection, incident response, compliance, and security posture management.
Harnessing OpenAI architecture and security-specific plugins, Security Copilot creates responses and offers extensive visibility into threats while offering opportunities to further extend its functionalities. It also integrates with Microsoftâs security portfolio products, such as Microsoft Defender XDR, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsoft Intune, and third-party services like ServiceNow. The solution is aligned towards enhancing security outcomes while complying with responsible AI principles.
Availability: Presently accessible through an early access program for commercial customers.
Functions: Incident response, threat hunting, security posture management, security reporting.
GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant that supports a wide range of programming tasks across diverse languages and integrated development environments (IDEs). Its advanced features, such as code completion, function and line suggestions, and intelligent filtering for chat and security vulnerabilities, can boost developer productivity.
The GitHub Copilot has different plans for individual developers and organizations. It also has an advanced enterprise plan, requiring a GitHub Enterprise Cloud subscription, that provides many bespoke features. Some features are personalized chat capabilities, documentation search and summarization, and enhanced code review capabilities. Apart from that, GitHub Copilot extends its accessibility to verified students, educators, and open-source project maintainers at no cost, advocating educational and community development initiatives.
Availability: Available for individuals and enterprises
Functions: Code suggestions, function generation, test acceleration, security vulnerability identification.
Summing up
Understanding Microsoftâs array of Copilot offerings unlocks a strategic roadmap toward harnessing generative AI within enterprise and individual computing domains. From the freely accessible Microsoft Copilot, integrated into Windows 11 and Edge, empowering users with AI chat capabilities, to the business-centric advancements of Copilot for Microsoft 365 for M 365 suite users, each version serves distinct use cases and user bases. Comparably, specific versions that address specific professional needs in CRM, ERP, and app development include Copilot for Dynamics 365 and Copilot for Power Platform. Microsoft Security Copilotâs focus on cybersecurity emphasizes the pivotal role of AI in protecting digital assets.
Are you looking for a technology partner?
Enterprises are at the center- experiencing this generative AI revolution. And at the forefront of this innovation is Microsoft Copilot. So, whether you want to build your own AI-powered Copilot or try Copilots in action or ensure your enterprise has an AI-ready data foundation, while ensuring complete security, you need a robust technology partner to handhold.
Saxon AI is a renowned Microsoft Gold partner that provides solutions to enterprises that drive efficiency, competitiveness, and profitability. We have decades of experience in managed services, cloud infrastructure, and comprehensive IT solutions. We help businesses transform digitally.
Get in touch and we can discuss how to apply AI in your enterprise strategically.
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