Tips for Getting the Most Out of Copilot for Microsoft 365

Artificial intelligence is one of the breakthrough technologies of this decade, and the world is enamoured by It. One of the best new tools taking advantage of this technology, Copilot for Microsoft 365, feels like your computer drank its morning cup of coffee, boosting productivity, creativity, and efficiency like never before.

However, navigating Copilot for the first time can be difficult. Understanding when, why, and how to use its features to reduce your workload can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to AI.

In this blog, we’ll review our top five tips for getting the most out of Copilot for Microsoft 365. With this, you’ll be able to unlock Copilot and ensure you’re using it to its fullest potential.

Select the Most Appropriate Chat Mode in Copilot for Web

When using Copilot, the key to getting a perfect response is making sure that Copilot knows precisely what you want and how to give you an output. Copilot’s three different chat modes, or ‘conversation styles’, let you tune the conversation to receive the most appropriate response for your needs.

These are the three key chat modes in Copilot:

• Creative: This mode allows you to use Copilot to let your creative side shine. You can generate imaginative, elaborate, and innovative responses, and Copilot will fulfil all your creative requests.

• Precise: This is the mode for straightforward answers. Generating concise, intelligent, and factual responses, this mode prioritises accuracy.

• Balanced: Offering a perfect blend of the other two modes, the balanced mode offers informative, engaging, and exciting responses for a well-rounded answer to anything you ask.

Being mindful of this is essential when talking to Copilot. After all, the creative mode would be wholly unsuitable if, for example, you were utilising Copilot to help with statistics. Using these conversation styles correctly will allow your business to unlock Copilot’s full potential.

Be Clear and Specific with Prompts

When working with Copilot, it’s vital to ensure your prompts are clear and specific. In other words, be prepared to fuel your prompt with as much relevant information as possible. This will allow Copilot to generate the exact response you need more efficiently.

The ‘What, Why, Which and How’ framework is a great way to plan and format your prompts. This will allow Copilot to understand precisely what you’re looking for.

• What response are you trying to generate?: Whether it’s six paragraphs or bullet points, tell Copilot precisely what you’re looking for.

• Why do you need it, and who is involved?: Include the reason, such as a meeting or an email, if anyone is involved, such as a client or a coworker, and other important information, like the topic of the meeting.

• Which information should Copilot use? Directing Copilot to the correct source of information, such as an email or document, will let it generate a more precise response.

• How should Copilot respond? Whether you want an in-depth analysis or a quick response, including this information will ensure that Copilot generates the response you need.

Try conversing with Copilot instead of using a singular prompt when generating ideas. Start with a broader request, then push for the details. This way, you’ll get a wider base of information to work with and narrow it down as you go.

Don’t be Afraid to Iterate

Sometimes, Copilot doesn’t get it exactly right the first time. If you’re not happy with the response you’ve received, don’t be afraid to revise what you’ve written and try again. This will bring you closer to your ideal result.

Copilot is an LLM (Large Language Model), which means, it’s built to predict and generate text. You’ll receive a unique response every time you use it, even if you ask the same question 5 times over. This is why iteration is vital when working with generative AI.

Moreover, it’s essential to know that Copilot remembers information per conversation. Suppose you’re trying to ask something new, clear the chat first. Inversely, if you’re trying to follow up on the information you’ve asked before, Copilot will not remember unless it is in the same conversation.

Summarise Entire Webpages

Copilot can be used in Microsoft Edge to summarise any articles or web pages you’ve found online. When researching a lot of information or even just recapping an article you’ve discovered, summarising with Copilot can help save tons of time.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to summarise a page in Edge:

1. Open the article.

2. Click on the Copilot logo at the top right corner of the browser. Two options, Chat and Compose, will appear.

3. Use the Chat option to open a new chat with Copilot, and type ‘summarise this page’. Copilot will use the page you have opened, so resending the link is unnecessary.

4. Copilot will generate a summary for you. You can save this response in the chat or generate another reaction if you’re unhappy with the first one.

Be Responsible for AI-Generated Content

Before using Copilot, it’s vital to be aware of how to use AI responsibly. Misusing AI can quickly turn sour, from ethical and moral concerns to even copyright violations. Being informed on responsible AI usage will let you ensure it’s being used effectively and appropriately.

When using Copilot, carefully review and test all responses generated. AI is vulnerable to what’s known as ‘hallucination’, where the information can be completely inaccurate. This phenomenon can occur with any AI model, so checking your outputs to make sure that all the information used is correct is vital.

If Copilot generates a bad output, such as offensive, unexpected, or copyrighted content, report it. Microsoft uses a Responsible AI Standard to ensure all content is monitored and that reports are beneficial for keeping Copilot ethical.

Being aware of AI’s limitations and context is crucial. After all, knowing how any system works means you can make informed decisions. Educating yourself on AI principles, potential biases, and limitations allows you to fully understand Copilot and make the best decisions regarding AI responsibility in your business.

How We Can Help

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a trailblazer for businesses, and using it within your organisation can help supercharge your business day to day. These tips can help you use Copilot to its fullest potential and take advantage of the many benefits it can bring your business.

If you want to get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot, contact us now. We’re here to help you and ensure that you have the support you need to hit the ground running with anything Microsoft 365-related.

Get in touch with us now and see how we can help.

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