Overview
Here we will explore Microsoft Copilot, its functionalities, and the differences between the free and paid versions within the M365 environment. We want to emphasize the importance of enterprise data protection and offer insights into how Copilot can enhance productivity across various Microsoft applications.
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What is Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI-powered productivity tool that integrates with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. MinnState chose Copilot as the Generative AI platform because it can utilize the power of ChatGPT and DALL-E 3 to make informed responses with contextually relevant responses based on the user’s data and activities within the M365 environment (including Teams sites). Microsoft Copilot includes enterprise data protection and does not feed information to large language models (LLMs).
Figure 1 Image is a great illustration of Microsoft Graph—pulled from Microsoft’s site on Graph.
For more on the architecture and Microsoft ecosystem: Copilot extensibility in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
Enterprise Data Protections for Using Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot offers robust enterprise data protection measures to ensure the security and privacy of user data. These protections include:
- Encryption: Data is encrypted both at rest and in transit, ensuring that it remains secure throughout its lifecycle.
- Data Privacy: Microsoft does not use your data for training foundation models. Prompts, responses, and data accessed through Microsoft Graph are not used to train LLMs.
- Access Controls: Copilot respects your organization's identity model and permissions, inheriting sensitivity labels, applying retention policies, supporting audit interactions, and following administrative settings.
- Compliance: Microsoft 365 Copilot complies with existing privacy, security, and compliance commitments, including GDPR and the EU Data Boundary.
These measures ensure that your data is protected and used responsibly, providing a secure environment for leveraging AI capabilities within the M365 ecosystem. You must log in with your MinnState account to make use of the data protection
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Free Access to Copilot
A free version of Microsoft Copilot is available to all faculty, staff, and students. This includes access to M365 Copilot Chat and the Microsoft Edge Browser Copilot.
Utilize your Microsoft StarID credentials to be covered under enterprise data protection.
Paid Access to Copilot (Staff and Faculty)
Additional features of Microsoft Copilot can be accessed with a $360 annual license for faculty and staff. If faculty or staff wish to purchase a license through their own budget, please complete the Technology Solution Request and indicate the Cost center on the request form.
In order to make use of Copilot across the Microsoft 365 suite of applications you must have the Microsoft 365 apps installed. Contact IET for assistance.
M365 Copilot (Chat)
Access Microsoft Copilot at microsoft365.com/chat. Login with your M365 credentials (starid@go.minnstate.edu for students, starid@minnstate.edu for staff/faculty). This version includes enterprise data protection. It is available to all students, faculty, and staff.
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Edge browser Copilot
Microsoft Copilot is available for free in the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows and MacOS. To access Copilot, simply open the Edge browser and look for the Copilot icon in the upper right corner.
When logged into your MinnState Microsoft account, Microsoft Copilot will provide you with Enterprise Data Security, indicated by the green check on a shield.
Windows 10/macOS
Within Edge, in the upper left corner, select the profile image.
Windows 11
In Windows 11, within Edge, the profile is in the left corner.
Upon finding the profile image (in either windows version), select the profile image.
A dropdown/popup will appear, select Sign in to sync data.
Sign in with your Microsoft 365 account: Ensure you are logged in with your Microsoft 365 credentials (e.g., StarID@minnstate.edu or starID@go.minnstate.edu). This will enable enterprise data protection features.
Once you have logged into Edge, you will then be prompted once again when you select the Copilot icon from the far-right corner.
Utilize the same credentials to sign in.
Once logged in, again, you will see the green shield with the checkmark, indicating that you are behind the enterprise data protection.
Ask your questions and begin your prompt engineering journey. One of the best questions to ask Copilot is “How do I do XYZ in copilot?” It often will give you plain and simple answer you can follow.
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Copilot through the M365 Suite
With a paid subscription to Copilot you can also use Copilot in the M365 suite of products like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.
Copilot with Excel?
Excel is a powerful spreadsheet application that lets you organize and analyze data. You can use Copilot with Excel to:
- Generate formulas, charts, tables, and pivot tables for your data.
- Format your data with conditional formatting, data validation, and filters.
- Analyze your data with descriptive statistics, regression, and forecasting.
- Summarize your data or a range of cells.
- Research information and facts related to your data.
- There is a free add-on (currently) available: Copilot for Finance
Copilot with Outlook?
Outlook is a popular email and calendar application that lets you communicate and manage your time. You can use Copilot with Outlook to:
- Generate content for your email based on your subject, recipient, and purpose.
- Format your email with fonts, colors, and styles.
- Edit and proofread your email with suggestions and corrections.
- Summarize your email or attachment.
- Research information and facts related to your email.
Copilot with PowerPoint?
PowerPoint is a presentation application that lets you create and deliver slideshows. You can use Copilot with PowerPoint to:
- Generate content for your slides based on your topic, style, and tone.
- Format your slides with themes, layouts, transitions, and animations.
- Edit and proofread your slides with suggestions and corrections.
- Summarize your slides or a section of them.
- Research information and facts related to your slides.
Copilot with Teams?
Teams is a collaboration platform that lets you chat, call, and share files with your colleagues. You can use Copilot with Teams to:
- Generate content for your chat messages based on your topic, tone, and audience.
- Format your chat messages with emojis, gifs, and stickers.
- Edit and proofread your chat messages with suggestions and corrections.
- Summarize your chat messages or conversation.
- Research information and facts related to your chat messages.
Copilot in Teams Meetings
For Copilot to work in Teams meetings, the meeting must have transcriptions enabled. Also, the Teams meeting must be hosted by someone on our tenant. (If you are invited to a vendor’s Teams site, for instance, Copilot will not work with their licensing.)
Copilot App in Teams
Also, you can use Copilot within Teams as an app to help you. To install the app, within the Teams application, select the ellipses from the left side bar, search Copilot and then select Copilot. If you would like to keep it on your side bar, right click on the Copilot logo and pin.
Copilot with Word?
Word is a popular word processor that lets you create and edit documents. You can use Copilot with Word to:
- Generate content for your document based on your topic, style, and tone.
- Format your document with headings, lists, tables, and images.
- Edit and proofread your document with suggestions and corrections.
- Summarize your document or a section of it.
- Research information and facts related to your document.
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Differences between free and paid versions of Copilot
General difference between the Free and Paid versions of Copilot
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Feature/Aspect
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Free Version
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Paid Version
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Functionality
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Basic functionalities like text suggestions, grammar corrections, and limited task automation.
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Enhanced functionalities include advanced AI-driven agents for tasks, seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps, and priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo.
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Integration
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Limited integration with Microsoft tools and third-party applications.
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Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Outlook, Teams, etc.), allowing smoother workflows.
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Image Generation
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Limited boosts for AI image generation (15 boosts per day).
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Higher boosts for AI image generation (100 boosts per day).
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Security and Compliance
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Basic security features. (If logged in, protected through the same as the paid version.)
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Enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance.
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Customization and Scalability
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Limited customization options.
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Advanced customization and scalability options, including Copilot Studio for building unique agents.
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Support and Updates
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Basic support and updates.
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Priority support and regular updates
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Difference between the Free and Paid versions of Copilot in M365 Office Apps including Outlook, Edge Browser and Teams
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Feature/Platform
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Free Version
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Paid Version
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Microsoft 365
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Basic functionality like document summarization, email drafting, and meeting transcription. Requires manual steps such as uploading files for processing.
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Seamless integration with M365 apps (Word, Outlook, Teams, etc.), allowing smoother and more efficient workflows. Enhanced productivity features like AI-driven agents for tasks.
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Edge
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Access to Copilot features like web-based chat and image creation. Limited boosts for AI image generation.
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Priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during peak hours. Higher boosts for AI image generation.
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Teams
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Basic AI-powered chat and meeting insights. Requires manual steps for some tasks.
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Integrated AI-powered chat with secure access to organizational graphs. Enhanced collaboration features within Teams.
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Copilot Training and Resources
Microsoft
LinkedIn Learning
Please see our LinkedIn Learning Access for how to gain access to LinkedIn Learning.
If you are interested in pulling in videos or even one of these courses into your D2L Brightspace course, please take a look at article addressing D2L Brightspace integration with LinkedIn Learning.
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