AI where the work already happens
Microsoft Copilot is the collective name for Microsoft’s AI assistant. Copilot means the person supporting the pilot rather than flying, and it is designed to sit alongside your usual work. It appears throughout Microsoft’s products — Windows, the Edge browser, and the Office applications.
Working inside Word and Excel
Its main advantage is offering assistance inside applications you already know.
- Word: drafting, rewriting, and summarizing
- Excel: analyzing data, help with formulas, chart suggestions
- PowerPoint: generating a first-pass deck
- Outlook: drafting mail and summarizing long threads
- Teams: meeting notes and automatic summaries of key points
Rather than learning a new tool for AI, your existing work gets easier — which is why it has been well received for professional use.
Chat and image generation are available free. Using AI fully inside Word and Excel requires a paid arrangement such as Microsoft 365 Copilot, so what you can do depends on whether your organization has adopted it. Starting with the free Copilot to get a feel for it is sensible.
Some laptops now ship with a dedicated Copilot key, and the integration of Windows and AI looks set to continue.
Not the same as GitHub Copilot
The names invite confusion, but GitHub Copilot is a coding assistant for programmers and a separate product. For general work and everyday use, Microsoft Copilot is the one. If you use Office daily, the free version is the natural place to start.