Microsoft Copilot

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Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot

Copilot Chat is a secure, enterprise-grade generative AI assistant available to the Western University community, built upon a specialized version of OpenAI's GPT models. Copilot Chat at Western includes Enterprise Data Protection, ensuring that any information shared within the chat is not used to train the underlying models and remains isolated within Western's protected environment.
M365 Copilot is an AI-powered add-on for the Microsoft Office 365 Suite that integrates directly into apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The primary advantage is that it is grounded in your organizational data, such as OneDrive files, Outlook emails, and Teams chats, allowing it to summarize meetings or draft documents based on your internal work. It is available to faculty and staff but requires a paid subscription; requests to purchase should be submitted through JIRA.

Note: Enterprise Data Protections are only applied if you are logged in using your Western credentials. You can verify if you are logged into Copilot by looking in the upper right-hand corner of the Copilot page for the green shield icon.

Using Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat can be used in a web browser, Teams, or on your mobile device.

Step 1: Sign in

Step 1: Sign into your Microsoft 365 subscription

Screenshot of Copilot Chat on the web.

Welcome to Copilot!

Step 2: Enter a prompt

Step 2: Enter your own prompt and select send

Copilot chat window.

Here is a sample prompt:

"Help me draft an [ internal / external] [ email / document] about [ topic]. Base it on [ the uploaded document / website]. This will be shared with [ who] so [ specify type of language]. Keep it [ specify length], use [ specify style e.g.bullet points, highlight key changes, etc]"

A sample follow-up prompt could be:

The tone is too [ formal / academic] please change it to [ new tone]

Step 3: Work with the response

Step 3: After your response is generated there are several things you can do with it (e.g. edit your prompt, copy the response, share it with someone, like or dislike it, or listen to the results aloud)

Copilot icon bar

Adding content to your prompt

In addition, when entering a prompt, you can press the + button and add content to upload. This helps add context to your prompt.

+ sign drop down menu.

Enterprise Data Protection

Next to the model selection drop-down and new chat button in the top right corner of the screen, the shield icon indicates enterprise data protection for Copilot Chat. This means everything you do is protected within the walls of Western.

Pages

In the left navigation, you’ll find Pages where you can work with generated content from your prompts, edit them, or share them with others.

Left navigation bar screenshot.

Learn more about Copilot

That's just the beginning. There's a lot you can do with Copilot. For more ideas you can visit Microsoft's 365 Copilot video tutorials webpage.

How to get the most out of Copilot

Ask clear, task-oriented questions. Copilot works best when given precise, professional prompts.
Copilot is optimized for business, document processing, and efficiency.
Copilot is designed for task completion, not open-ended discussions, so avoid casual chit-chat. Unlike other AIs Copilot Chat is not great at creative or playful exchanges.

Copilot Chat vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot

Think of these as two related but different ways of using AI at Western.

Features at a glance

Copilot Chat	Microsoft 365 Copilot
A general AI chat tool	An AI assistant built directly into Microsoft apps
Prompts can be entered in a chat window, plus limited access in Outlook and Teams	It works inside Word, Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
Good for drafting, brainstorming, and summarizing	Best for everyday work tasks using your files and emails
Included with eligible Microsoft 365 accounts	Requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license

Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat is a generative AI tool but protected by your Microsoft 365 work account. You can enter a prompt, and it generates a response.

With the free version, Copilot Chat is primarily used as a chat tool, with limited access in Outlook and Teams.

You can use Copilot Chat to:

Rewrite a paragraph in plainer language
Summarize a policy or document you upload
Brainstorm ideas for an email, presentation, or event
Ask general questions or get help getting started

Copilot Chat runs in a browser, desktop app, or mobile app. While it can assist in Outlook and Teams, it remains separate from the full in-app experience available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

When would I use Copilot Chat?

Use Copilot Chat when:

You want help thinking, drafting, or rephrasing
You’re working across ideas, not a specific file yet
You want a quick summary or explanation
You’re unsure where to start

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is Copilot embedded directly inside the tools you already use every day.

Instead of copying text into a chat window, Copilot works where the work happens.

Examples:

In Word, it can draft or revise a document based on your files
In Outlook, it can summarize an email thread or suggest a reply
In Teams, it can recap a meeting and list action items
In PowerPoint, it can turn an outline into slides
In OneNote, it can summarize notes and organize content
In Excel, it can analyze data and build formulas

You don’t need to explain your context as much because Copilot already knows where you are working and which files you have access to.

When would I use Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Use Microsoft 365 Copilot when:

You’re actively working in Word, Outlook, Excel, OneNote, Teams, or PowerPoint
You want AI help that uses your emails, meetings, or documents
You want to save time on routine work (summaries, drafts, recaps)
You want AI help without switching tools

What do they have in common?

Both:

Are tied to your Western Microsoft 365 account
Respect existing file and email permissions
Keep your work data protected
Help with writing, summarizing, and idea generation