Imagine this: you're a small business owner juggling a dozen tasks, from managing invoices to brainstorming marketing strategies. Enter Microsoft Copilot, your new AI-powered superhero, ready to swoop in and streamline your operations. What's this all about, you ask? Let's dive into the world of Microsoft Copilot and see how it's changing the game for SMBs.
Microsoft Copilot isn’t just another tool; it’s like the Swiss Army knife of AI products. Copilot embodies the forefront of AI innovation. It was born from the union of massive language models and the treasure trove of data from Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 applications.
For many individuals their interactions with an LLM chatbot entail text conversation in an interface window or the creation of images via prompts. In larger enterprise AI powered interactions have been enabled via API. Copilot transcending the conventional definition of an AI assistant and serves as a trusted co-pilot towards heightened productivity and efficiency. Additionally, AI services contribute to the development of differentiated solutions and generative AI-powered interactive assistants. It’s an AI dynamo that assists developers with code, transforms how businesses interact with the digital world, and yes, it even reshapes our online behaviors.
Here’s the scoop:
AI Assistant: Initially, think of it as Bing Chat wearing a business suit, designed for the enterprise environment. Whether you’re dictating commands, uploading images, or tweaking the style of your interactions, Copilot handles it all with a flair that’s hard to match. You can access Copilot through the taskbar or a keyboard shortcut.
Integration Hero: It snugly fits into your daily Microsoft 365 usage, from Word to Outlook. Picture this: you’re on your PC, and you switch to your phone. Voilà! Copilot follows you seamlessly, ensuring no beat is missed in your hectic schedule. There is also a general Microsoft Copilot, trained on more generalized aggregate data from the internet, which is different from the enterprise-specific Copilot for Microsoft 365.
Imagine you're writing code, and bam! You hit a wall. But wait, here comes Copilot, your coding sidekick, ready to suggest the next line of code. It’s like having a coding guru over your shoulder, only less creepy and more helpful. Copilot can also help you step through your lines of code and find areas where changes can be made to introduce more robust security.
From sprucing up your PowerPoint slides to managing emails in Outlook, Copilot has your back. You can access Copilot seamlessly across devices, including phones and PCs, ensuring continuity of assistance. Additionally, the Copilot mobile app, integrated into the Microsoft 365 mobile app, offers robust capabilities and will launch as a separate app in January 2024. Need a quick graphic for your presentation? Copilot can draw it. Got a document that needs translating? Consider it done. This tool is about making your life easier, one task at a time.
As with all generative AI tools the human is still in control and is responsible for what is is created by the software. Hallucinations and non-existent facts have been created by generative AI in the past so the author or creator of the resource must vet the output and verify its' reliability.
There are two main flavors of Copilot:
Microsoft Copilot: Ideal for individuals who crave efficiency.
Copilot for Microsoft 365: Tailored for the big leagues—small businesses and large enterprises needing robust AI capabilities.
While $20 per month might seem steep for some, it's a worthwhile investment when you consider the breadth of functionalities and the smooth integration across your devices and apps.
Imagine your PC had a superpower: the ability to think and learn like a mini-genius. That’s what Copilot+ PCs offer. These aren't your run-of-the-mill computers; they're packed with Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that handle complex AI tasks right on your device. Think of the NPU as the brain of your computer, doing trillions of operations per second (TOPS)—yes, trillions with a “T”.
Unlike traditional AI assistants, which rely on distant servers (hello, cloud computing), Copilot+ does its magic locally. This means faster, more secure processing without the need for constant internet connection. Fancy, right? Microsoft recently announced they were bringing copilot to PC's.
Ever had one of those "I swear I saved that document somewhere" moments? With Recall, those days are over. This feature snapshots everything you do, allowing you to scroll back in time and find any file, document, or webpage you were working on (Windows Central) (Windows Latest). It’s like having a photographic memory for your computer. Privacy concerns? Don’t worry—Recall runs entirely on your device, and you can disable it anytime.
Do you doodle in Paint or create masterpieces? Cocreator is an image creation AI that can turn your scribbles into stunning images. The Image Creator from Designer, formerly Bing Image Creator, is integrated with the AI assistant for context-relevant information. Whether you’re designing a new logo or just having fun, Cocreator helps bring your visions to life (Windows Central) (Windows Latest). Just use natural language prompts to type a description or draw a rough sketch, and let the magic happen.
Need to look sharp on video calls? Windows Studio Effects has you covered. From blurring out messy backgrounds to filtering out noise, these effects ensure you always look your best, no matter where you’re working from (Windows Central) (Windows Latest). Say goodbye to the days of distracting backgrounds and hello to professional, polished video meetings.
For the gamers and graphic designers out there, Automatic Super Resolution is a dream come true. This feature uses AI to upscale and enhance the visual quality of your images and games (Windows Latest). It’s like turning your HD screen into a 4K cinema—everything looks sharper and more detailed.
Communication is key, especially in a diverse world. Live Captions can translate live or recorded audio into text in over 40 languages—all without an internet connection (Windows Latest). Perfect for international business meetings or creating inclusive environments for your team.
If you use Adobe Creative Cloud, you’re in for a treat. Copilot+ integrates advanced AI editing tools directly into programs like Photoshop and Lightroom. Whether you’re removing backgrounds or tweaking images, these tools save you time and effort while keeping your data secure (Windows Central) (Windows Central).
It's understandable that the Recall feature might raise some eyebrows when it comes to privacy. Here's the good news: Microsoft has designed Recall with your privacy in mind.
Local Processing: All data captured by Recall is stored and processed locally on your device, not in the cloud. This means your information stays on your PC, reducing the risk of data breaches
User Control: You have complete control over Recall. You can enable or disable the feature at any time, and you can manage what data is captured and stored. There's also a new Windows Semantic Index tool that lets you control what Recall sees and uses
No Cloud Uploads: Unlike some other AI features, none of the data handled by Recall is uploaded to the cloud. This ensures that your sensitive business information remains secure and private.
By addressing these concerns, Microsoft ensures that Copilot+ PCs offer powerful productivity tools without compromising your privacy.
CoPilot for Enhanced Productivity
Imagine getting through your to-do list faster than ever. Copilot+ helps unlock the creative and productive potential of an organization's people and data. Its generative AI capabilities contribute to the growth and adoption by partners in the AI Cloud Partner Program. Copilot+ streamlines tasks, reduces manual processes, and automates repetitive work. This means you can focus on what truly matters—growing your business.
Data Security with CoPilot
In today’s digital age, data security is paramount. With Copilot+, all AI processing happens locally on your device, ensuring your sensitive information remains private and secure. No more worrying about data breaches or unauthorized access.
Cost Efficiency of Copilot
Here’s the kicker: Copilot+ doesn’t require a subscription. That’s right, no hidden fees or extra costs (Windows Central). You get all these advanced AI features bundled with your new Copilot+ PC, making it a cost-effective solution for any SMB.
Think of Copilot as your friendly AI assistant in the cloud, helping you out with tasks like generating text or images. It's great, but it relies on internet access and servers to do its job. On the other hand, Copilot+ is like having that assistant right next to you, doing everything locally and much faster.
While both have their uses, Copilot+ offers more robust, secure, and versatile features—especially useful for business professionals and creatives who handle sensitive data.
Imagine a design firm using Copilot+ to create and edit high-quality visuals in record time. Copilot Pro users have the option to switch back to the GPT-4 model in the free tier of Microsoft Copilot, providing them with additional privileges within the Copilot platform. Or a multilingual team benefiting from real-time translations during meetings. Generative AI chatbots are being used in various technology solutions, such as customer service chatbots and interactive assets for business insights and automation. The possibilities are endless, and many SMBs are already reaping the benefits. Testimonials from early adopters highlight increased efficiency, enhanced creativity, and peace of mind knowing their data is secure.
Whether you’re in finance, sales, service, or security, there’s a Copilot designed just for your sector. Microsoft has also introduced a new Solutions Partner designation for Support Services, offering exclusive benefits such as paid support agreement pricing, access to a knowledge-based library, and customer-facing badging to help partners resolve incidents quickly and efficiently. Need to reconcile transactions? Check. Want to analyze customer data? Double-check. Looking to enhance your cybersecurity? You guessed it—Copilot is on it.
Announced for the new Windows 11 PCs and already integrated into mobile apps, Copilot ensures that whether you're at your desk or on the go, you have a consistent, reliable AI companion.
While Copilot is a standout star, it's part of a broader universe of AI assistants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google's Duet, and Amazon's Alexa. Each assistant offers unique features, but what sets Copilot apart is its deep integration with Microsoft's ecosystem, making it a natural choice for businesses already entrenched in Microsoft products.
Microsoft Copilot isn't just about automation; it's about empowerment. By leveraging this powerful tool, SMBs can unlock new efficiencies, foster creativity, and stay competitive in a fast-paced world. So, are you ready to let AI take your business operations to new heights? With Microsoft Copilot, the sky's the limit!
Understanding the licensing structure for Copilot Studio is crucial for businesses looking to leverage its capabilities without unexpected costs. As with all Microsoft products now a subscription is required when purchasing CoPilot.
Copilot is sold as value add so it's common to find a CoPilot license for a previously existing application. You'll see it as a Power Apps SKU, a Power Automate SKU and as a standalone application in CoPilot Studio. Here's a simplified breakdown:
Enterprise Agreement (EA)
Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA)
Direct purchases from Microsoft
If you want to sign up for CoPilot as an individual see the Sign up for a Microsoft Copilot Studio trial topic.
Power Apps:
Power Apps Premium: $20 per user/month; $12 per user/month with 2,000+ new licenses.
Power Apps per app: Allows a user to run 1 custom app; pricing varies based on the volume and type of apps.
Power Automate:
Power Automate Premium: $15 per user/month.
Power Automate Process: $150 per bot/month.
Hosted Process and other add-ons available with different pricing.
Microsoft Copilot Studio:
$200 per tenant/month; additional usage based on the "messages" used in the platform.
Power Pages:
Authenticated users: Packages start at $50 per pack for 100k+ users.
Anonymous users: Packages start at $25 per pack for 100k+ users.
AI Builder: Add-ons for AI capabilities can be integrated, with costs based on capacity used.
Dataverse: Licensing includes options for additional database, file, and log capacity.
This guide emphasizes the variability in pricing based on the scale of use and the specific services utilized within the Power Platform. Each component of the platform (like Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio, and Power Pages) has specific licensing requirements that may include per user, per app, or capacity-based models.
For detailed scenarios and specific pricing strategies, consider consulting with a Microsoft licensing expert at Syslogic. More information: Licensing guide https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2085130
