Overview of features in M365 Copilot

• Chat

  You’re already familiar with the chat function from Copilot Chat: You type a question or request into the chat field and receive a response. The new feature is that with Microsoft Copilot Premium, you can now access your files, emails, or meetings directly via the chat. This significantly expands the range of what you can prompt Copilot to do. 

  As you may already know, you can upload documents directly in the chat by clicking the small plus icon. However, not everyone knows that by typing a forward slash (/), you can search directly in your files, emails, and meetings. Just a small tip. And while we’re on the topic of tips and tricks, you can also summon your various agents to the conversation simply by typing the at symbol (@). 

  Try it yourself: Search for a recent email correspondence and ask Copilot to summarize the main points. 

• Dictation

  With the dictation feature, you can dictate instead of typing. Copilot translates your speech into text as you speak. Dictation is useful if you need to clear your mind, as it allows you to talk your way to a rough draft, which you can then refine further with Copilot. However, there’s no need for the conversation to end here! If you wish, you can continue the dialogue as a voice chat. 

  Try it yourself: Click on the dictation icon(a microphone), and speak a prompt that you otherwise intended to write. 

  

• Voice Chat

  The voice chat takes the dictation function in M365 Copilot a step further. With this feature, you can talk to Copilot in real-time. You can use the feature for everything you would otherwise use Copilot's chat function for, but the special aspect here is that it happens through a fluid conversation. For example, it is smart if you need to think out loud, want feedback on an idea, or need to practice an important presentation. 

  The only downside is that a lively session of voice chat can disturb your colleagues if you share an office with someone. 

  Try it yourself: Click on the voice chat icon (which resembles sound waves), and tell Copilot about a task you want feedback on. 

  

• Create Media

  This feature is simply called "Create" in M365 Copilot. And what can you create, you ask? Well, quite a bit actually: images, videos, infographics, report templates, posters, and presentations. And more. 

  The feature can be useful if you find yourself in a pinch and need an image for a presentation or similar. However, note that SDU Communication has specific guidelines on how you should use AI-generated material in your communication.

  Try it yourself: Click "Create" and ask Copilot to create an infographic based on this guide. 

  

• Agents

  The word "agent" might make it sound as if Copilot can handle all your work tasks on its own. That is not how it works.

  An agent in M365 Copilot is a customized chatbot that responds based on specific instructions, sources, or workflows.

  Agents are particularly useful if you perform the same task multiple times or often need answers within a specific topic. You can both create your own agents and use the predefined agents that already exist in M365 Copilot. You can find them under "All agents."

  When you create an agent, you can provide it with instructions and choose which sources it should use. These could, for example, be files or links. You can also share the agent with others who are licensed for M365 Copilot.

  An agent can therefore help you perform tasks more consistently and efficiently in your daily work.

  Try it yourself: Create your own agent (click "New agent" under the Agents menu in Copilot) based on a collection of materials you frequently search for information in.

  

• Notebooks

  With notebooks in M365 Copilot, you can gather a wealth of material in one place and work on it with focus. You can think of the notebook as a kind of project folder where all your chats and files related to the project are stored in the same location. Similar to agents, notebooks help tailor the context from which Copilot provides responses. 

  You can also invite others to your notebooks so you can collaborate on the same project. 
  Additionally, notebooks include a bonus feature that allows you to create podcast-like audio files from the material you have stored. There are bound to be situations where this feature proves to be practical. 

  Try it yourself: Create a notebook for a project you are working on (click the icon with 9 dots at the top of Copilot's menu to select Notebooks) – and have Copilot create an audio overview of the material. 

  

• Integrations

  One of the biggest advantages of M365 Copilot is that it is integrated into the Microsoft programs you already use. This means that Copilot can assist you while you work in, for example, Outlook, Word, or Excel. To summon your personal AI assistant in these programs, simply click on the Copilot icon. Note: When you work with Copilot in other programs, the chat is saved in M365 Copilot. 

  The integration between M365 Copilot and the other Microsoft programs works both ways: You can also work from Copilot into the programs if you prefer. Simply click on “More apps” to select the Microsoft programs you wish to have available within Copilot itself. 

  Try it yourself: Transcribe an online meeting in Teams, which you then ask Copilot to turn into a summary in Word, which you then turn into a presentation in PowerPoint, which you then present at a meeting in Teams, which you then…

  

• Saved Memories

  This is a well-hidden feature in M365 Copilot, but it is worth knowing. Your Copilot is personal, and it continuously updates its knowledge about you based on your correspondence. Unless you disable it, it also has access to your work profile. Both aspects provide Copilot with a better foundation to assist you. 

  You can find and manage Copilot's saved memories about you under Settings > Personalization. Here, you can of course also disable the feature if you wish. In the same place, you can give Copilot general instructions on how you want it to act when you work together. 
   
  When you chat with Copilot, you can also ask it to update its memory if you want to ensure it remembers something for next time. 

  Try it yourself: Check what Copilot already remembers about you – and feel free to modify its memory if it remembers incorrectly, should know more… or needs to forget something again.