Copilot for Microsoft 365

Introduction

The term "Copilot" generally refers to a range of AI-powered tools designed to assist with various tasks. Microsoft's Copilot (General Use) and Copilot for Microsoft 365 are two such tools, but they serve different purposes and are tailored for different environments.

General Use: Can apply to various products and services beyond Microsoft, including Copilot (microsoft.com) in a browser, GitHub Copilot and other coding assistants.

What is Copilot for Microsoft 365?

Copilot for M365 is an AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. It leverages the capabilities of large language models (like GPT) and Microsoft Graph to provide contextual assistance, automate repetitive tasks, generate content, and enhance productivity through natural language processing.

Image 1 - Copilot for Microsoft 365

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/

Note: Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a paid service as an add-on. At the time of publishing this post it is an offering via a separate license for a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan.

Variations of Copilot for M365

1. Copilot for Word: Assists with drafting, summarising, and editing documents.
2. Copilot for Excel: Helps with data analysis, creating complex formulas, generating visualisations, and summarising data.
3. Copilot for PowerPoint: Aids in creating presentations, designing slides, generating talking points, and summarising content.
4. Copilot for Outlook: Assists in managing emails, scheduling, summarising conversations, and drafting responses.
5. Copilot for Teams: Enhances collaboration by summarising meetings, generating task lists, and facilitating communication.
6. Copilot for Power Platform: Integrated into Power Platform tools (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate) to help users build applications, automate workflows, and analyze data using natural language commands.

What is Copilot for Power Platform?

Copilot for Power Platform is an AI-powered assistant within Microsoft’s Power Platform. It helps users create and manage applications, automate workflows, and analyze data using natural language processing. This makes it easier for users to build solutions without needing deep technical expertise.

How to get Copilot for Power Platform?

To access Copilot for Power Platform, you need:

1. Microsoft 365 Subscription: Ensure you have an appropriate Microsoft 365 subscription that includes access to Power Platform tools.
2. Environment Setup: Make sure your environment is set up for Power Platform. This includes having access to Power BI, Power Apps, and Power Automate.
3. Enable Features: Ensure that Copilot features are enabled within your Power Platform environment. This might involve administrative settings or enabling preview features.

You can typically access Copilot features through the Power Platform web portal or within the respective applications (Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate). Look for the Copilot icon or interface elements within these tools to start using the assistant.

Image 2 - Copilot for Microsoft 365 Pricing

Source: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/enterprise/copilot-for-microsoft-365#Pricing

How to Use Copilot Power Platform?

Copilot for Power Apps:

1. Access Power Apps: Go to the Power Apps website and sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Create or Open an App: You can either create a new app or open an existing one. To create a new app, click on "Create" and choose the type of app you want to create (Canvas or Model-driven).
3. Enable Copilot: If you are using a new Power Apps environment, Copilot might be enabled by default. Otherwise, you might need to enable it manually. To enable Copilot, navigate to the "Settings" menu (usually found in the top-right corner). Look for an option like "Copilot settings" or "AI Builder" and enable it.
4. Add Copilot to Your App: Once Copilot is enabled, you can add it to your app. For a Canvas app, go to the "Insert" menu and look for Copilot components under "AI components" or similar categories. Drag and drop the Copilot component onto your canvas. For a Model-driven app, navigate to the app designer and look for options to add AI or Copilot components.
5. Configure Copilot: After adding the Copilot component, you need to configure it to suit your needs. You might need to provide data sources or specify the type of tasks Copilot will assist with, such as data entry, recommendations, or automated actions. Use the properties pane to adjust settings, like connecting to specific data tables or configuring user interactions.
6. Test and Use Copilot: Test the Copilot functionality within your app to ensure it behaves as expected. You can enter sample data or perform tasks to see how Copilot assists. Test the Copilot functionality within your app to ensure it behaves as expected. You can enter sample data or perform tasks to see how Copilot assists.
7. Publish and Share Your App: Once you are satisfied with the Copilot integration, save and publish your app. Share the app with your team or organisation, and provide instructions on how to utilise Copilot features.

Copilot for Power Automate:

1. Access Power Automate: Open your browser and go to the Power Automate website or use the Power Automate app if you have it installed.
2. Start a New Flow: Click on “Create” from the left-hand navigation pane. Choose the type of flow you want to create: Automated cloud flow, Instant cloud flow, Scheduled cloud flow, etc.
3. Enable Copilot: Once you’re in the flow creation interface, look for the Copilot feature. It’s usually accessible from a side panel or as a floating button within the flow design area.
4. Interact with Copilot: Ask Questions: You can ask Copilot questions related to the flow you’re building. For example, “How can I connect to SharePoint?” or “How do I set up a condition?” Receive Suggestions: Copilot will offer suggestions based on your needs. For example, if you’re creating a flow that involves sending emails, Copilot might suggest using templates or specific connectors. Generate Flow Steps: Describe what you want to achieve, and Copilot can help you generate the necessary steps or actions. For instance, you can say, “I need a flow that triggers when a new item is added to a SharePoint list,” and Copilot will guide you through setting it up.
5. Review and Edit Suggestions: Review the suggestions or flow steps provided by Copilot. You might need to tweak them to fit your exact requirements or add additional actions.
6. Test Your Flow: Once you’ve set up your flow with Copilot’s help, it’s important to test it to ensure it works as expected. Use the “Test” button within Power Automate to run a test and make any necessary adjustments.
7. Save and Deploy: After successful testing, save your flow. You can now deploy it and let it run based on the triggers and actions you’ve set up.
8. Monitor and Optimise: Use Power Automate’s monitoring tools to keep an eye on your flow’s performance. If you encounter any issues or if your requirements change, you can go back and adjust the flow with Copilot’s assistance.

Copilot for Power Pages:

1. Access Power Pages: Log in to the Power Pages environment using your Microsoft credentials.
2. Enable Copilot: If it's not already enabled, check if you need to activate Copilot features in the settings or through an admin. This may vary based on your licensing and setup.
3. Open a Power Page: Navigate to the specific Power Page where you want to use Copilot.
4. Activate Copilot: Look for a Copilot or AI assistant icon, usually located on the sidebar or within the page editor. Click it to open the Copilot interface.
5. Interact with Copilot: Ask Questions: You can type questions or commands into the Copilot interface to get help or generate content. For example, you might ask it to draft text or provide design suggestions. Utilise Suggestions: Copilot might offer suggestions for improving your page, such as enhancing content or optimising layout.
6. Implement Suggestions: Review the suggestions or content generated by Copilot. Make adjustments as needed to fit your specific requirements or style.
7. Save and Publish: Once you're satisfied with the changes or content provided by Copilot, save and publish your page.
8. Monitor and Refine: After publishing, monitor how users interact with your page and refine content based on feedback or additional insights provided by Copilot.

Copilot for Power BI:

1. Ask Questions: Use natural language to ask questions about your data. For example, "Show me the total sales by region" or "What was the trend in sales over the last year?"
2. Generate Visuals: Copilot will interpret your questions and suggest appropriate visuals. You can accept the suggestions or refine them further.
3. Customise Reports: Once Copilot generates a report or visual, you can customise it using the standard Power BI tools. This includes changing chart types, modifying colors, and adding filters.
4. Insights and Summaries: Copilot can provide insights and summaries based on your data. Ask it to highlight trends, anomalies, or key metrics.
5. Drill Down: For deeper analysis, use Copilot to drill down into specific aspects of your data. For example, "Drill down into sales by product category in Q1 2023."

Summary

Organisations now leverage codeless development tools for a over 1/4 of their AI and automation initiatives, helping to scale digital transformation (DX). You can connect copilots in a low code platform with seamless integration across Power Platform, Dataverse and more.

With Power Apps, you can effortlessly publish a copilot within your Power App for conversational assistance.

With Power Automate, you can Automate processes across and within your business systems with Robotic Processes Automation (RPA), Digital Process Automation (DPA) and API capabilities.

With Power Pages, you can embed a copilot on your no-code responsive sites with generative AI assistance over your data.

With Power BI, you can view custom analytics for your copilot that cater to your specific needs.

With Dataverse, you can query your low code and business application projects within your respect environments.

With AI Builder, you can build, train and publish AI models without a single line of code.

Thanks for reading.