Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: Use AI - without risk and high costs
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in a company often raises questions: How secure is the data? Is the investment worthwhile? And what if we're not ready yet? Microsoft has created a solution for precisely these cases: Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
In this article, you'll find out what Copilot Chat is, what it can do and when it's worth switching to the paid premium version of Microsoft 365 Copilot.
About the author
Michael Deters
AI Business Development Manager
About the author
Michael Deters
AI Business Development Manager
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: Use AI - without risk and high costs
The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in a company often raises questions: How secure is the data? Is the investment worthwhile? And what if we're not ready yet? Microsoft has created a solution for precisely these cases: Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
In this article, you'll find out what Copilot Chat is, what it can do and when it's worth switching to the paid premium version of Microsoft 365 Copilot.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?
Copilot Chat is a Free AI solution for business usebased on OpenAI's GPT model and designed specifically for organisations that use AI safely and step by step want to introduce. Particularly interesting: There are no entry costs, and additional functions such as agents can be paid for based on usage. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is available for Microsoft 365 commercial customers with an Entra ID account available.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat contains three important components:
Intelligent chat based on GPT and web knowledge
Copilot Chat uses OpenAI's GPT model and draws on current web knowledge for precise, contextualised responses.
Personalised agents for employees and business processes
Microsoft's visionEveryone should be able to use Copilot and create their own agents for individual tasks and to support central business processes.
Security and management functions for administrators
Company data remains protectedChat content is not used for AI training. Admins control functions, data sources and keep an eye on user behaviour.
The premium version, which costs 30 dollars per user per month, can use company data. The free version only uses web knowledge and allows a limited number of files to be uploaded. In this way, content for social media channels can be created based on a Word document, for example. In addition to the chat, there are also the so-called Copilot Pageswhich enable simultaneous work on content with colleagues in real time.
Admins can Empowering users Agents to build. In the free Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat version, the knowledge here is limited to web data. Microsoft also provides templates here. Specific instructions and selected sources can be used, for example, to create bots that support the learning of new technology. It is possible to enrich the agent with company knowledge such as Sharepoint sites. In this case, however, you are no longer working with the free version, but on a pay-as-you-go basis.
So what is the difference to Microsoft 365 Copilot, the paid version?
A major advantage of the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot is its seamless integration into everyday working life. It has access to Teams messages, emails and files to which the respective user also has access and is integrated into familiar applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Copilot therefore serves as a user interface for artificial intelligence. However, many companies have concerns about precisely this point and fear that Copilot could reveal unwelcome secrets. This applies regardless of the co-pilot, Access authorisations and shared files.
Conclusion - first test, then scale.
With Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Microsoft offers a smart way to test AI in the company - without additional licence costs and without security risks. A good starting point for familiarising users with AI systems and establishing initial pilot groups.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is the right choice if full integration into Microsoft applications is required and the company data is to be utilised in the best possible way.