What Is Copilot Chat?
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a secure, enterprise-grade AI assistant available at
no additional cost to anyone with an eligible Microsoft 365 work or school
account. Think of it as a ChatGPT-style experience, authenticated through your
organization’s Microsoft Entra ID and protected by Microsoft’s enterprise data
safeguards.
KEY POINT |
Copilot Chat is web-based only. It does not connect to your internal files, emails, SharePoint, Teams messages, or calendar. It works with publicly available information and content you paste directly into the chat window. |
What Can You Do With It?
Despite not having access to your internal data, Copilot Chat is surprisingly powerful for everyday tasks:
Draft & Edit Write emails, proposals, meeting agendas, policies, and reports from scratch — or refine your existing drafts. |
Research & Explain Ask questions, summarize complex topics, compare options, or get plain-English explanations of technical subjects. |
Brainstorm Generate ideas, outline projects, create interview questions, or build training content outlines. |
Analyze Pasted Text Paste in a document, data table, or email thread and ask Copilot to summarize, find gaps, or suggest next steps. |
Translate & Reformat Convert content to another language, change tone (formal to casual), or restructure content for a different audience. |
Code & Formulas Ask for Excel formulas, simple scripts, or explanations of code — no programming background required. |
How to Access Copilot Chat
There are three easy ways to get started:
| 1 |
Web Browser Navigate to copilot.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft 365 work or school account. |
| 2 |
Microsoft 365 App Open office.com and click the Copilot icon in the left navigation sidebar. |
| 3 |
Outlook on the Web Open Outlook in a browser. The Copilot Chat panel is available in the right-hand sidebar — useful for drafting replies without leaving your inbox. |
5 Tips for Better Results
Tip 1: Be specific.
Instead of “write a policy,” say “write a 3-paragraph remote work policy for
a 20-person company that requires core hours of 9 am–12 pm.”
Tip 2: Paste your source material.
Copilot cannot read your files, but it can analyze anything you paste into the chat window.
Give it the raw text and tell it what you need.
Tip 3: Iterate, don’t restart.
If the first response isn’t quite right, reply with “make it shorter” or
“use a more formal tone” rather than starting the conversation over.
Tip 4: Use it as a thinking partner.
Ask it to critique your plan, play devil’s advocate, or identify what you might have
missed. It excels at stress-testing ideas.
Tip 5: Keep sensitive data out.
Never paste confidential client data, passwords, financial records, or personal information
into any AI chat tool — including Copilot Chat.
Important Limitations to Know
NO INTERNAL DATA |
Copilot Chat has no visibility into your emails, files, SharePoint, Teams conversations, or calendar. To get that level of integration, a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot Business or Enterprise add-on license is required. |
KNOWLEDGE CUTOFF |
Like all AI chat tools, Copilot Chat has a training data cutoff date. It may not have the latest information on rapidly changing topics. Always verify facts before acting on them. |
NOT A SEARCH ENGINE |
Copilot Chat generates responses based on patterns in its training data. While it can search the web when enabled, it can also confidently produce plausible-sounding but incorrect information — known as “hallucination.” Review all outputs critically before using them. |
Ready for More? The Paid Upgrade Path
When you’re ready for Copilot to work with your actual organizational data
— summarizing your emails, joining your Teams meetings, searching SharePoint —
the Microsoft 365 Copilot Business add-on unlocks that capability starting
at $18/user/month (promotional rate through June 2026).
Contact Katy
to discuss whether the upgrade makes sense for your team.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions —
no additional license required. |
copilot.microsoft.com