Copilot Chat

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.

Copilot Chat is included with your UWO license at no charge.

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

Step 1: Sign into your Microsoft 365 subscription

Welcome to Copilot!

Step 2: Enter your own prompt and select send

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: 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)

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

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.

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.

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.