Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant designed to increase productivity across devices, operating systems, and business applications. Using the latest OpenAI generative technology, Copilot helps professionals complete tasks faster, gain insights, and collaborate more efficiently through natural language interactions.
As Copilot rolls out across the Microsoft ecosystem, it is billed as the most advanced productivity suite on the planet, capable of helping users complete tasks up to 29% faster. But to access Copilot’s capabilities, from summarizing emails to taking smart notes, businesses must enable and properly configure the assistant.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to enable Microsoft Copilot, from basics to licensing details, eligibility prerequisites, and activation instructions in apps like Microsoft 365, Teams, Windows, and Dynamics 365.
Understanding the Microsoft Copilot Product Portfolio
Before enabling Copilot in your organization, it is helpful to understand the full line of Microsoft Copilot products. There are currently more than 5 co-pilot assistants available:
- Core Microsoft Copilot: The chat-based AI assistant formerly known as Bing Chat for natural language task support.
- Windows Copilot: An AI assistant built into Windows 11 for operating system assistance.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: Provides AI support for Office applications through a monthly add-on of $30 per user.
- Dynamics 365 Copilot: Custom AI in D365/CRM applications such as Sales, Service and Marketing.
- Viva Copilot – Copilot integration shown on Viva Engage HR platform
Additionally, Microsoft plans to launch vertical Copilot products for security and other departments. Each Copilot has customized features but shares an underlying generative AI foundation.
As a business leader enabling Copilot, you can choose which Copilot products to deploy into your technology stack based on individual use cases and budget. Most Copilots require licensing, with costs ranging from $0 for Windows Copilot to $50 per month per user for Dynamics 365 Copilot capabilities.
Now let’s explore how to activate the most popular Copilot solutions
Enabling Microsoft Copilot in Windows 11
For Windows 11 users, both everyday consumers and business professionals, Microsoft Copilot capabilities are built-in and require no license. However, there are some differences in how Copilot is activated on managed devices.
On personal devices running Windows 11, Core and Windows Copilot turn on automatically through Windows updates. Use Win + C to invoke Copilot for web browsing, modifying settings, summarizing content, and productivity assistance.
In managed environments, IT administrators must enable additional policies for Copilot under “temporary enterprise control” during the deployment process. This includes allowing the Bing Chat platform, properly configuring group policies, and approving certain Windows updates.
Once policies are configured, Copilot will remain enabled by default on managed Windows 11 devices in the future. Users can take advantage of AI support in tasks such as taking screenshots, organizing windows, finding offers, and automating workflows.
Activating Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365
To incorporate Copilot into Office applications, Microsoft offers a Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on priced at $30 per month per user. After assigning licenses in the Admin Portal, Copilot integrates seamlessly into Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
IT administrators will need to ensure that licenses such as Microsoft 365 E3/E5 are active, that users have Entra/O365 identities, OneDrive accounts, and the latest version of Outlook. Review network configurations to ensure low latency connectivity to Copilot cloud endpoints.
Once configured in the backend, Microsoft 365 users can simply click the Copilot icon within each app to activate AI-powered support. In Word, get writing tips. In Excel, generate visualizations. In Outlook, organize your inbox. Enable monitoring to track Copilot adoption over time.
Boosting team collaboration with Copilot
Microsoft Copilot for Teams improves meetings with real-time transcription, smart summaries, automated notes, and more to improve productivity. Access it through the Copilot tab in Teams meetings or the button in Teams chat.
In particular, Copilot works for PSTN and VoIP calls on Teams Phone with Conversation Intelligence features. Summarize meetings by asking Copilot to recap key details after the conversation. Enable Copilot for collaborative whiteboard sessions as well.
In 2024, Microsoft will launch Copilot innovations such as collaborative note taking, discussion analysis, employee appointments, and video sharing. Configure settings in the Admin Portal to disable Copilot for certain users if desired.
Microsoft Copilot Security and Compliance Standards
By enabling Copilot in all apps, Microsoft ensures that the assistant’s data usage complies with organizational compliance rules and global privacy laws like GDPR. Copilot also has built-in data encryption, anonymization, contracted deletion intervals, and other security controls.
Access permissions can be granted at the user or application level. Monitor data collection with transparency tools. Take advantage of Microsoft’s broader privacy protections, such as data retention and classification policies.
Before enabling Copilot, customize internal security protocols, device management policies, and role-based access. Talk to a Microsoft representative about customizing gates to your needs while onboarding Copilot.
The future with Microsoft Copilot: Viva, Studio and vertical expansion
Microsoft shared plans to launch Copilot integration and services in its remaining products. This includes Microsoft Viva Goals, Viva Engage, and more HR technologies in 2023. Viva Copilot helps with goal and key results tracking, social media posts, and workplace workflows.
There’s also Microsoft Copilot Studio, a no-code platform announced at Microsoft Ignite 2023 where companies can create custom Copilot experiences with their own data, workflows, and models. Use Studio to code Copilot applications tailored to your needs.
And Microsoft confirmed its intentions to launch industry-specific Copilot solutions for security, retail, healthcare, and other verticals. Over time, safety co-pilots and custom upright co-pilots will join the growing range.
Ready to enable Microsoft Copilot within your technology stack?
Now that you understand the different Copilot products and have activation instructions for Microsoft 365, Windows, Teams, and more, it’s time to enable AI support. Consult a Microsoft sales representative to explore licensing based on the apps and devices you want to cover.
As Microsoft’s generative AI ecosystem expands, new Copilot tools and configuration needs may arise. But for now, the current line presents a future-facing way to empower employees and instantly improve productivity, while maintaining data integrity and user oversight.
Categories: Technology
Source: vtt.edu.vn