Nine times out of ten, you’ve heard the word AI a thousand times this year. You’ve probably also heard your colleagues and friends mention they use AI tools. But even though the people around you are using it, when you open your laptop to use AI, you aren’t sure where to start.
Let’s talk about it.
In today’s read, I’ll be going over some of the possibilities when it comes to AI tools, more specifically, Microsoft’s Copilot.
Before we get into it, let’s cover what Copilot is.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Copilot is a conversational AI experience. Think of it as a work companion. A digital assistant that knows a lot. In simple terms, you send it a request, and it returns a response.
Copilot leverages Work IQ. This means that when you ask Copilot a question, it grabs context from your work data (emails, chats, files, calendar, etc.) and uses it as needed to give you a tailored and more informed response.
What can it do?
AI tools seek to boost productivity by helping you get things done faster and more efficiently.
Here’s a general list of tasks I’ve seen Copilot accomplish:
- Data Analysis — Identify patterns and insights from information or datasets
- Research & Information Gathering — Compile information on topics and synthesize findings
- Editing & Proofreading — Review content for grammar, clarity, and consistency
- Summarization — Condense meetings, documents, or conversations into key points
- Brainstorming & Idea Generation — Explore ideas and possibilities
- Automation — Handle repetitive tasks and workflows
- Content Creation — Generate documents like slide decks, proposals, and RFPs
How Copilot can help you?
So, you still have your laptop open and are wondering how you can use Copilot.
Here’s a few use cases where Copilot can really help*:
Staying up to date: Late to a Teams meeting? Use the ‘Recap the meeting’ suggested prompt Copilot in Teams. Got a bunch of emails in your inbox? Use the ‘Summarize my inbox’ button in Copilot in Outlook. These features help you stay informed efficiently.
Task Automation: Create a custom AI agent to automate repetitive tasks like responding to common employee questions, managing inventory, or handling support request.
Brainstorming & Strategy: Ask Copilot to generate ideas for a product feature, a marketing campaign, or even a process improvement. You’ll get multiple angles to consider, giving you more options to evaluate for your team.
Knowledge Synthesis: Need to learn or refresh your understanding of a topic? Ask Copilot to summarize key concepts, create a pros-and-cons list, or break down complex information. It’s a way to access information more quickly.
*These use cases assume that you have a Copilot Premium license.
The Takeaway
As you get comfortable with using AI, you’ll find more opportunities to bring it into your day to day. The key is to experiment and see what works for your workflow. Each time you use it helps you build familiarity and confidence with the tool.
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