The Evolution of Interaction: An Essay on Copilot (graph grounded) Chat

Holger ImberyHolger Imbery
8 min read

In technological advancements, the emergence of AI-driven chat interfaces represents a significant leap forward in human-computer interaction. Among these, Microsoft Copilot (graph grounded )Chat stands out as a prime example of how artificial intelligence can bridge the complexity of machine learning and users' everyday needs.

The Genesis of Copilot Chat The inception of Copilot Chat can be traced back to the growing demand for efficient, intelligent, and responsive digital assistants. As the world gravitated towards a more interconnected and automated ecosystem, the need for an assistant capable of understanding and executing various tasks became evident. With its legacy of innovation, Microsoft responded by creating Copilot Chat—a platform that not only comprehends user queries but engages in meaningful dialogue.

The Mechanics of Understanding At its core, Copilot Chat is powered by sophisticated algorithms and language models that process natural language inputs. This allows the AI to interpret the context and nuances of user requests, providing responses that are not just accurate but also contextually relevant. The technology behind Copilot Chat is continually updated, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of AI capabilities.

The User Experience What sets Copilot Chat apart is its focus on the user experience. The interface is designed to be intuitive, allowing users to communicate in their natural language. Whether scheduling appointments, drafting emails, or generating creative content, Copilot Chat handles tasks with a proficiency that mirrors human intelligence, making it an indispensable tool for personal and professional use.

The Impact on Productivity The implications of Copilot Chat on productivity are profound. Automating routine tasks frees up valuable time for users, allowing them to focus on more complex and creative endeavors. The ripple effect of this increased efficiency can be felt across various industries as Copilot Chat becomes a catalyst for innovation and growth.

The Ethical Dimension With great power comes great responsibility, and Microsoft has proactively addressed the ethical considerations surrounding AI. Copilot Chat is built with safety protocols that prevent misuse, ensuring that the AI operates within ethical guidelines. This commitment to responsible AI fosters trust and reliability among users.

The Future Trajectory Looking ahead, the potential for Copilot Chat is boundless. As AI technology evolves, so will the capabilities of Copilot Chat, expanding its role as a collaborative partner in our digital lives. The future may see Copilot Chat becoming more integrated into our daily routines, blurring the lines between human and machine collaboration.

Different usage formats and licensing options for enterprise users

starting with the usage on Microsoft's CoPilot Website: https://copilot.microsoft.com.

Available for everyone

For anyone looking to find the correct information, create unique content, and increase productivity, Copilot is available for use. With your free Microsoft account, you can:

  • Access Copilot on the web or mobile, as well as in Windows, Edge, and Bing.

  • Chat using text, voice, and images.

  • Summarize documents and web pages.

  • Create images with 15 daily boosts in Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator).

  • Use plugins and Copilot GPTs.

Available for Individuals as a paid addon for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers

For those seeking enhanced performance and creative capabilities. This monthly subscription includes everything in Copilot, plus:

  • Gain priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo, including during peak times, for accelerated performance to accomplish tasks more quickly

  • Access Copilot in select Microsoft 365 apps to draft documents, summarize emails, create presentations, and more

  • Create, edit, and resize AI images even faster with 100 boosts per day using Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator)

For Microsoft 365 and Office 365 work and school licenses

AI chat for the web with commercial data protection (free)

When organizations and employees utilize generative AI services, it's crucial to comprehend how these services manage user and chat data. Since employee chats might contain sensitive information, Copilot is specifically designed to safeguard this data, as demonstrated here:

source Microsoft: Commercial Data Protection

source Microsoft: Commercial Data Protection
  • Copilot utilizes Microsoft Entra ID (formerly known as Azure Active Directory) for authentication and only permits users to access Copilot with commercial data protection using their work account.

  • An Entra ID user's tenant and user information is removed from chat data at the beginning of a chat session. This information is solely used to determine if the user is eligible for commercial data protection. Search queries initiated by prompts from an Entra ID user are not linked to users or organizations by Bing.

  • Microsoft does not retain prompts or responses from Entra ID users when using Copilot. Prompts and responses are kept for a brief caching period for runtime purposes. Microsoft discards prompts and responses once the browser is closed, the chat topic is reset, or the session times out.

  • Chat data sent to and from Copilot with commercial data protection is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-128) during the chat session. Microsoft has no 'eyes-on' access to it.

  • Since Microsoft does not retain prompts and responses, they cannot be used as part of a training set for the underlying large language model.

  • Advertising shown to Entra ID users is not targeted based on workplace identity or chat history.

as website or as web app

Build in in your edge browsers bar on the right side

Employees can use Copilot to quickly complete tasks, enhance creativity, or provide better customer support. All of this can be done with the assurance that user and business data is protected and will not be leaked outside the organization. For instance, Copilot can help employees swiftly generate content, analyze or compare data, summarize documents, acquire new skills, write code, and more. While employees engage in these activities, they can rest assured that their organizational data remains secure.

For example, you can ask Copilot to help you:

  • Understand the implications of a decision: "What are the pros and cons of offline marketing strategies?" and "How can I measure the success of my offline marketing campaign?"

  • Learn new skills: "What are the top 5 things I should know when managing a large project?" and "What is agile project management, and how does it differ from waterfall?"

  • Analyze data: "If we're forecasting 7% EPS growth this coming quarter, how does our internal forecast compare with EPS growth in the top US public CPG companies?"

  • Summarize work PDFs open in Edge: "Summarize the findings of this internal cybersecurity report and the top 3 concerns" and "What are the best practices for addressing these security issues?"

  • Write better code faster: "Write a regular expression in Python that matches email addresses" or "How can I use the unit test module to write test units for my Python code?"

  • Plan a business trip: "Where should I stay in Manhattan with a good running path nearby?"

  • Generate social media content: "Use this messaging framework to create five social media posts describing its value to healthcare workers."

Microsoft 365 Copilot (graph-grounded) Chat (paid)

IMPORTANT:
Copilot vs. Copilot for Microsoft 365
What are the differences between Copilot and Copilot for Microsoft 365?
Copilot is a generative AI service grounded in data from the public web in the Bing search index only. It doesn't have access to organizational resources or content within the Microsoft 365 Graph, such as documents in OneDrive, emails, or other data, even when commercial data protection is turned on.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 adds three things:

  1. Access to data within your Microsoft 365 tenant's Graph.

  2. Prompts and responses are processed entirely within your Microsoft 365 tenant boundary, with Microsoft 365-specific security, compliance, and privacy features.

  3. This generative AI capability is available from Microsoft 365 applications such as Teams, Outlook, and Word.

RECAP:
Can Copilot with commercial data protection access data within my Microsoft 365 or Azure tenant?

No, therefor you need Microsoft 365 CoPilot (paid)

as website or as web app

Build in in your edge browsers bar on the right side

within Microsoft Teams

Bonus: Create a web app to have an app-like user experience

  • select "Apps" and "Install this site as an app."

  • please give it a name

  • Pin it to your taskbar and Start menu and start it with your device login

Entering Prompts via spoken words

Using Copilot through voice commands provides several advantages, such as enhanced productivity, hands-free coding, inclusivity, and efficiency. Voice commands can help streamline tasks, enabling developers to code without a keyboard, which can reduce physical fatigue and support individuals with disabilities. Voice coding fosters greater inclusivity in software development and encourages individuals with disabilities to engage in coding activities. Copilot's versatility makes it an adaptable tool that caters to different needs and preferences, making technology more accessible and convenient. By using voice commands, you can quickly and efficiently tackle daily tasks, boost productivity, unlock creativity, and enhance your understanding of information.

Conclusion

Microsoft Copilot Chat represents a significant leap forward in AI-driven chat interfaces, offering a bridge between the complexity of machine learning and users' everyday needs. It has evolved to provide an intuitive and effective tool for both personal and professional use, significantly impacting productivity and fostering innovation. With its solid ethical considerations and ongoing advancements, it continues to set the stage for the future of human-computer interaction. Furthermore, its various usage formats and licensing options make it an accessible and versatile tool for users of all types, from individuals to large enterprises. As AI technology evolves, so will Copilot Chat, potentially becoming an even more integral part of our digital lives.

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Written by

Holger Imbery
Holger Imbery

I talk and write about conversational AI, robotic process automation, and things that keep an architect awake at night. Your feedback on my articles is highly appreciated, and I would like to invite you to a professional discussion. I'm a Principal Architect @NTTDATA focusing on Microsoft Power Platform and Azure.