Microsoft 365 Copilot is bringing the latest version of ChatGPT to the workplace.
In the wake of the world’s most famous AI writer, ChatGPT, arriving on the Bing search engine, Microsoft has now unveiled its plans to use the same technology to improve workplace productivity, with the introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Copilot (opens in new tab) is powered by the same sort of prompt-based AI that drives ChatGPT – meaning that, with a written instruction less than a sentence long, Microsoft 365 can write entire emails and reports for you.
The announcements were made in a virtual press meeting hosted on March 16 via LinkedIn, by Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella and its Corporate Vice President Jared Spataro, on the same day TechRadar Pro reported that the company was leaning heavily into GPT-4, the latest version of OpenAI’s language model.GPT-4 in the workplace
After enthusing about technological advancements in computing that have made human lives easier, such as video conferencing and collaboration tools, Nadella noted that, for the first time ever, AI is now at the center of a product, rather than simply powering it behind the scenes. In light of this, he also called for its responsible use.
However, he also said that the nature of work was going to change, to make our lives even easier.
Spataro then took over to present a segment about the need for these changes, and to “rediscover the soul of work”. He then introduced the new tool, explaining that it works by combining large language models (LLMs), individual’s data, and Microsoft 365 apps people use every day.
He also claimed that because the productivity tool is built on the principles of security, compliance, privacy, and responsible AI, it’s safe and appropriate for enterprise use.
He conceded that sometimes Copilot wouldn’t get things right, but would still be “helpfully wrong” – giving users a head start on their task all the same.
