In the ever-evolving world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, Microsoft stands out with their suite of diverse Copilot solutions. From chat-bots to fully integrated AI experiences, there is a Microsoft Copilot option that fits every organization's needs.

Here we will expand on each of Microsoft’s Copilot solutions from least to most complex to give you a better understanding of what makes the most sense for you and your team to use.

Related: To learn more about harnessing the power of AI tools in your organization, check out the following conversation with Matthew Martin.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Microsoft is taking the next step to simplify the AI experience and make Copilot more accessible for all users. Since January 2025, the Copilot experiences for work and personal use no longer share the same name. Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat are for work and educational use, while Microsoft Copilot is for personal use.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat (formerly Microsoft Copilot for Entra account users) is an AI assistant available to licensed Microsoft 365 users, even those without a Copilot license. Powered by GPT-4o, users can leverage features like agents, pages, and image generation to increase efficiency and find new ways to get their work done. To get started, go to m365copilot.com or click the Copilot icon within apps like Teams and Outlook.

To enable and manage Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for users, admins must ensure that eligible users have the appropriate licenses. Additionally, access to Copilot Chat is controlled through Microsoft 365 Apps admin center and Teams admin center settings. Admins can generate usage reports, ensure easy access to Copilot Chat, and ensure that users are connected to essential Microsoft 365 services.

For a full list of eligible licenses and more information on Copilot Chat, check out this blog. 

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is a large language AI model that utilizes your data to enhance organizational efficiency. This model is integrated within other Microsoft 365 apps such as Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and more.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is now generally available across all sales channels, including Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) new commerce. Customers holding prerequisite base SKUs such as Microsoft 365 E3/E5, Office 365 E3/E5, and Microsoft 365 Business Standard/Business Premium, are now eligible to purchase the Copilot for Microsoft 365 add-on SKU through an annual license. As of April 22, 2024, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is also available for Microsoft 365 F1 and F3, Office 365 E1, and Microsoft 365 Business Basic SKUs. Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses are currently available on an annual term and will be billed annually at $360 per user.

Starting May 1, 2024, Copilot for Microsoft 365 will be available for students aged 18 and above assigned Microsoft 365 or Office 365 A3 or A5 licenses. Eligibility will be extended to A1 on May 15, 2024.

Note that Microsoft 365 Copilot exclusively uses organizational data within the Microsoft 365 compliance boundary. Your data, as well as that of other customers, is not employed in training the model. The processing within Copilot is confined to Azure's secure and private OpenAI model, ensuring a secure and compliant environment.

Learn how to leverage this solution in Opkalla’s Microsoft 365 Copilot Guide.

Microsoft Copilot Studio

Copilot Studio (formerly known as Power Virtual Agents) is an end-to-end conversational AI platform that empowers IT professionals to create and customize AI tools using natural language. With Copilot Studio, you can easily design, test, and publish Copilots that suit your specific needs.  

Whether for internal or external scenarios, you can customize Copilot Studio to align with your industry, department, or role. The integration with Copilot for Microsoft 365 is also now available in preview. To access Copilot Studio, customers can take advantage of a 60-day free trial here.

The Takeaway

Microsoft Copilot is a suite of AI tools that offers a range of solutions to fit the needs of any organization. From the free Copilot for the web and in Windows 11, to the large language AI model of Microsoft 365 Copilot, to the customizable Copilot Studio, Microsoft has made AI accessible and easy to use. There’s even a Copilot for Dynamics 365 and Security, as well as in the individual apps we use daily, such as Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Loop and many others. Opkalla is happy to guide you and your team to a tailored Microsoft Copilot solution as your Technology Advisor and Microsoft CSP. Contact us today!